The Rugby Transformation Coalition says Eastern Province clubs must unite against Kings president Cheeky Watson and his executive so that rugby in the Eastern Cape can be cleaned up.
That was the call from the coalition’s chairman Bantwini Matika ahead of what promises to be a fiery EPRU annual meeting at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
“Saturday will be remembered in history as a day that the rugby community of the Eastern Cape took a stand against one of the biggest sports crisis in the history of South Africa Rugby,” said Matika.
Last week Saru stepped in to take charge of the Southern Kings after an ongoing cash crisis raised concerns over whether they would be ready for Super Rugby next year.
Players are still waiting to be paid and clubs say they have not been kept up to date with the financial state of the union.
“We saw this coming long before the 2014 elective council. We talked and made people aware of it, tried to stop it by opposing Cheeky but certain individuals labelled us hypocrites,” said Matika.
“I was personally singled out, ridiculed, labelled a sell-out by some of my comrades, and even had a threat on my life for talking about this. But I stood my ground because I knew something was not right.
“Ever since 2008 when we brought this new leadership into office things did not go well as there was a total disrespect for corporate discipline – checks and balances were non-existent. The business model is extremely flawed, our senior teams have never played well, club rugby is dying, transformation regressed and now we are bankrupt and riddled with debts,” he said.
“What happened this year is something we never saw before in the history of EP Rugby, starting off by not having financials presented in our AGM last year. We did not have a single union meeting the whole year. Sub-unions only had their AGMs in the past two weeks, no club subsidy, clubs not being officially informed of the financial situation, no salaries for players, staff and the union being in debts.
“All we need now is to get clubs to stop this by first getting to the bottom of why we find ourselves in this mess, if even if it means calling for a forensic audit of EPRU financials from 2008 and then go out there and find reputable and ethical leaders.”
EP Rugby and clubs are keeping their cards close to their chest. At this stage it is not clear whether a notice of no-confidence will be made ahead of the meeting or from the floor.
Last year, after a bitter election battle, Watson won a landslide victory, winning 219 votes last year, compared to the 20 won by rival Eben Coltman.
Despite numerous requests, EP Rugby has failed to answer a query on whether a notice of no-confidence had been filed by any of the clubs.
Adding fuel to the fire is that former SA Rugby boss Brian van Rooyen has said he is willing to take over as president if the clubs want him.
Watson made it clear that he would happily step aside if there was someone who could do a better job than him.
Disgruntled EP clubs are set to light fire under embattled boss
That was the call from the coalition’s chairman Bantwini Matika ahead of what promises to be a fiery EPRU annual meeting at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
“Saturday will be remembered in history as a day that the rugby community of the Eastern Cape took a stand against one of the biggest sports crisis in the history of South Africa Rugby,” said Matika.
Last week Saru stepped in to take charge of the Southern Kings after an ongoing cash crisis raised concerns over whether they would be ready for Super Rugby next year.
Players are still waiting to be paid and clubs say they have not been kept up to date with the financial state of the union.
“We saw this coming long before the 2014 elective council. We talked and made people aware of it, tried to stop it by opposing Cheeky but certain individuals labelled us hypocrites,” said Matika.
“I was personally singled out, ridiculed, labelled a sell-out by some of my comrades, and even had a threat on my life for talking about this. But I stood my ground because I knew something was not right.
“Ever since 2008 when we brought this new leadership into office things did not go well as there was a total disrespect for corporate discipline – checks and balances were non-existent. The business model is extremely flawed, our senior teams have never played well, club rugby is dying, transformation regressed and now we are bankrupt and riddled with debts,” he said.
“What happened this year is something we never saw before in the history of EP Rugby, starting off by not having financials presented in our AGM last year. We did not have a single union meeting the whole year. Sub-unions only had their AGMs in the past two weeks, no club subsidy, clubs not being officially informed of the financial situation, no salaries for players, staff and the union being in debts.
“All we need now is to get clubs to stop this by first getting to the bottom of why we find ourselves in this mess, if even if it means calling for a forensic audit of EPRU financials from 2008 and then go out there and find reputable and ethical leaders.”
EP Rugby and clubs are keeping their cards close to their chest. At this stage it is not clear whether a notice of no-confidence will be made ahead of the meeting or from the floor.
Last year, after a bitter election battle, Watson won a landslide victory, winning 219 votes last year, compared to the 20 won by rival Eben Coltman.
Despite numerous requests, EP Rugby has failed to answer a query on whether a notice of no-confidence had been filed by any of the clubs.
Adding fuel to the fire is that former SA Rugby boss Brian van Rooyen has said he is willing to take over as president if the clubs want him.
Watson made it clear that he would happily step aside if there was someone who could do a better job than him.
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