By ZINGISA MVUMVU
The Eastern Cape rumour mill has been in overdrive with news that the province’s only National First Division (NFD) side Mthatha Bucks is up for sale.
The rumours were true but club bosses have since made a dramatic U-turn, instead opting to look for a financial partner while the club will stay on in Mthatha.
But the option to sell has not been permanently ruled out. It is a temporary one, which will disappear completely provided a partner comes to the party.
Bucks chairman Simthembile Ntlantsana told the Dispatch yesterday that it had become expensive to run an NFD club without a sponsor.
With the OR Tambo district municipality yet to play ball, Ntlantsana says it would be difficult to compete for promotion.
According to him, the R380000 monthly grant NFD clubs receive from the PSL was just not enough to cover all expenses.
Even worse for the Mthatha outfit, they are probably the biggest spender on travel and accommodation costs with their away matches scattered as far as Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Cape Town.
At the moment, Ntlantsana is busy knocking at several doors engaging people with the potential to be partners.
If this fails Ntlantsana said he would be left with little choice but to put a price tag on the club’s NFD status.
“The fact of the matter is we survived by God’s grace in keeping the club afloat financially last season,” said Ntlantsana.
“The PSL grant is just not enough to maintain an NFD club because you end up tapping into your personal pocket to get business going.”
Although still in a desperate search for a financial backer, Ntlantsana emphasised Bucks were hard at work preparing for next season, with pre-season fixtures due to start next early next month.
With the likes of Moses Spandeel, David Radebe and Sibusiso Mapompo having been released, the club is also looking to beef up their player personnel.
Ntlantsana was not at liberty to divulge some of the players they were eyeing.
Negotiations were also in full swing to ensure the man who saved them from potential relegation last season – Petrus Ngebo’s – contract is extended.
Also to see his future stay at the club get a lifeline is head coach Velile Dyaloyi, whose contractual negotiations with Bucks are as good as a done deal.
Bucks will look to do better than last season which they spent fighting relegation from start to finish. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za