Cheeky Watson faced the media today to answer questions on the takeover by the South African Rugby Union of EP Rugby and that ‘elusive sponsorship’.
On Tuesday this week SARU agreed to assist the Eastern Province Rugby Union by taking control of the Southern Kings franchise in Vodacom Super Rugby.
The action followed through a decision taken by the Executive Council of SARU some weeks ago to step into the Kings’ affairs if certain expectations were not realised.
The decision was actioned as a result of the on-going cash flow problems at the Union after the president of EP, Mr Cheeky Watson, contacted Mr Oregan Hoskins, the president of SARU, to ask him to assist.
On Wednesday Cheeky answered questions around the ongoing crisis that the Eastern Province Rugby Union finds themselves in.
Cheeky referred to the takeover by SARU as; “Plan B” and said that; “SARU have always been waiting for my call to come in and assist.”
Watson said that the EP Rugby financial woes and cash flow problem could be termed a “Greek Tragedy” as he likened it to the recent financial crisis in Greece as he thanked SARU for stepping in to assist the union.
Watson confirmed that he will not be stepping down as President saying that he has never been bothered by negativity and remains confident that the fortunes of EP Rugby will still change with the Southern Kings remaining in Super Rugby and being a ‘force to be reckoned with’ in the second year of Super Rugby.
On losing Star Players Cheeky said that he was not ‘happy to lose anyone’ and that; “it was painful to lose star players like Sergeal Peterson.”
Asked about sponsorship and the loss of faith in Cheeky by the public Watson said that he doesn’t blame people not believing him but SARU have been kept up to speed and are assisting until such time as the funding lands. When asked to confirm that the funding would land, Cheeky had a short answer; “Yes”.
Watson did reveal that the sponsors are a group and that one of the ‘consortium’ is based in Australia and that he returned to South Africa ‘more confident’. Pressed on a timeline Watson declined to speculate saying that he thought he had already broken every time line in the world so was reluctant to give another timeline as he didn’t like to be referred to as; “Cheeky Watson, the liar.”
He denied that he had invested EPRU money in Foreign Exchange Trading.
The 60 year-old Somerset East born, Watson began his schooling at Herbert Hurd, went to Alicedale and then Graham College in Grahamstown – and cannot recall EP Rugby ever having a major sponsor since his time at Primary School except for the British Airways sponsoring of the Blue Stand at the Boet Erasmus Stadium. Citing a ‘historical reluctance by sponsors to get involved Watson says; “Maybe with SARU involved that will help get that major sponsor.”
On the NMB Ratepayers, Kobus Gerber saying that the NMBR had a major sponsor lined up Watson said; “I had a meeting at quarter past seven on Friday morning with Kobus Gerber, he came in the office a very very angry man and very hostile. Kobus spoke for 30 minutes and said that he had a R200 Million sponsor but the condition is that you (Cheeky Watson) need to step down. I asked Kobus to shake on it and he didn’t shake. Ten minutes later he asked me to step down with immediate effect and he told him that if there is a big sponsor and the condition is that I step down then, no problem. Then Kobus says that if I step down NMBRA won’t file court papers against Access Management etc. I told him tha twhat he was saying was extorion – the very thing he is supposed to be fighting and I asked him to leave.” With regards to the sponsorship alluded to by Gerber, Watson says; “The leadership of SARU has asked Gerber to please share the sponsorship in writing with them and it has never come to light.”
EP Rugby coach, Brent Janse van Rensburg is expected to remain in place and get assistance from SARU’s mobi unit. Fringe players from other unions are also expected to appear on loan to the Southern Kings.
Alan Straton
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