MyPE

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EP Kings Players on Strike

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“When poverty comes in the front door love leaves via the back door.”

Adding to the Eastern Province Kings woes are reports that the players did not turn up for practice this afternoon and have embarked on a strike action over unpaid wages. Earlier this season Eastern Province rugby boss Cheeky Watson and former head coach Carlos Spencer clashed over unpaid wages with Spencer resigning.

At the end of July players lined up to receive envelopes of money after promises were made of a double pay cheque following the expected signing of a major sponsor.

In October 2014 Cheeky Watson said that the union were at an advanced stage in securing a major sponsor for the 2015/16 season. Watson said if negotiations with a potential international sponsor were fruitful it would be the biggest deal secured in the history of EP rugby – rumoured at R200 million. Watson also said that it was a South African sponsor.

SA Rugby Mag.co.za reported that chief executive, Charl Crous said that he would discuss the matter with EP Rugby president Cheeky Watson this afternoon.

Crous said there had been some delay in payments coming in, but they were working on that at the moment and he was confident it would be resolved.

The EP Kings are struggling in the Currie Cup Premier Division, having lost all of their matches in this year’s competition and the worries about money cannot be doing much good for the players’ morale or focus on the job at hand.

One wonders if the EP Kings will travel to Johannesburg this weekend to play against the Golden Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday (19:10 kick-off)?

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.