Richards Bay Football Club’s new sponsor, Phakwe Gas, has announced that it will be injecting a staggering R100-million into the DStv Premiership side.
Thabiso Tenyane, the founder and executive chairman of Phakwe Group, committed R100-million that will be split into three seasons.
“The R100-million is broken down into two portions,” Tenyane told Sunday World after making the groundbreaking announcement on Wednesday.
“Per season, it will be R20-million each, of which this coming season’s money has already been sent through, hence they were able to sign new players.
“But there is an R40-million that will be used towards the training facilities and other additional resources that they will require, such as a goalkeeper coach, performance analyst, psychologist, dietician, and many other things.
“Because how do you expect them to compete with the likes of [Mamelodi] Sundowns if they don’t have the good facilities to support them? They are going to beat you; you are prone to being beaten.
“So, the investment, specifically the R40-million, is going to be helping with the critical facilities that they need immediately.”
Training complex
Richards Bay chairman Jomo Biyela also expanded on the investment, emphasising that only R60-million will be given to the club, while the other R40-million will be used to build a training complex.
“A total of R60-million will be coming to the club, which is R20-million in three seasons since the sponsorship is for three years,” Biyela said.
“Then the R40-million will be set aside by them to have a village for us when maybe the municipality [Umhlathuze municipality] gives us the land because we don’t have a place to train; there is nothing here.
“But they have budgeted the R40-million to say that if the municipality gives us the land, then he [Tenyane] will be able to avail the funds.
“So, to clarify things, the R40-million is not coming to Richards Bay but is going to be spent on the project that involves the club.”
Meanwhile, the Natal Rich Boys also unveiled six new signings: former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe, Keagan Allan, Fezile Gcaba, Sbani Mntungwa, Tlakusani Mthethwa, and former Sundowns star Thabiso Kutumela.
