WP / Stormers BACK TO THE FUTURE!

[Rinkals]

State Capture from the Nineteenth Century?

Nope.

The farmhouse has been converted to a B&B these days and when I visited there a few years ago, there were little plaques with accounts about how the house was used as Centre of Operations for the Boers. That's all I know, I'm afraid. There's a tiny chapel close by where family members are buried which dates back to the mid eighteen hundreds.

Waaaaay off topic (but so are all saffa threads sooner or later) where is the farmhouse Rinky?

Acton Homes.

Hope things have settled down Heidelberg way and you aren't having any more issues with any more Mozambicans.

[Sards]

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs to step up to be accountable, writes JAMES DALTON.

I never want to give players a back door when they haven’t been doing their job, nor do I believe the coaches should get one either. But, when we look at Western Province, let’s consider the multiple issues at play.

Zelt Marais inherited a mess, he did not create it, and in the most absurd year WP now also face their final year at Newlands. There is no way that the impending departure from Province’s home of rugby, a stadium with such a colourful history and wonderful stories, does not play on the mind of the coaching staff and players and add to the uncertainty around the brand of Western Province rugby at the moment.

But a team or province’s brand is ultimately built on their performances, and Western Province’s performances don’t speak of a strong brand. The current side is also damaging the strong historic brand of Western Province rugby with every poor decision and lacklustre performance.

There is a lack of creativity and an inadequacy in adapting to a game when it’s going against their structure. Playing as Western Province in this year’s Currie Cup, as well as the Stormers in Super Rugby Unlocked, the Capetonian players have looked unconditioned and uninterested.

Where is the accountability from the players themselves, and where is the accountability from Dobson and co? I have a lot of respect for Dobbo, but he is simply not getting it right this season. The performances have decreased in quality since Super Rugby Unlocked, and there seems to be continued poor player selection and management,  and a refusal to look beyond a gameplan that revolves around simply a strong scrum.

I’ve said it time and time again, but when the Stormers’ scrum is negated, they are unable to adapt or produce anything else. There is a lack of fluidity in the backline, poor cohesion between backs and forwards and the players are not conditioned.

Dobbo also needs to put loyalty aside and drop players who are out of form. Both Damian Willemse and Herschel Jantjies are bright young talents who have shown glimpses of what could be in the future, but neither have been good this year. Their continued lack of form calls for a rest for them and an opportunity for other players – they can only learn from the experience.

Then there is captain Siya Kolisi, whose best performances have been off the field this year. Kolisi has been nowhere near the inspirational captain who led the Boks to World Cup victory in 2019 and, when he hasn’t been injured this year, his performances haven’t ranked among the best loose forwards in SA.

Rumours now that Kolisi, among other marquee players, may be leaving Province amid MVM Holdings’ withdrawal from talks with WP and apparent interest in the Sharks, also do nothing to inspire confidence in him as someone currently interested in the state of Western Province Rugby.

Looking at the other players, the seven Springboks in the Stormers side need to remember that it was an entire squad that won the World Cup, not just the seven of them. Their complacent performances suggest otherwise, and they need to remember that none of them are guaranteed a Springbok spot in 2021 if their performances can’t warrant one.

The dark cloud that hangs over Western Province Rugby can be fixed only with accountability, from all the moving parts of the union.

This accountability is needed to ensure that a fresh start at a new stadium revives and grows the Western Province brand from next year – and not be left to lie in the Newlands rubble to become history.

Administrators need stop off-field antics from creeping into on-field performances. Dobbo and his coaching staff need to make some tough decisions in selection, go back to the basics of conditioning and discipline and on-field adaptability. And the players need to get their heads right, get their bodies right and start playing for their union.

Because as soon as Springbok selection was not an option this year, players’ domestic form dropped, and that is simply not good enough in a country with such a rich history of domestic rugby.

Pretty much everything I have been saying

[Sandstorm]

We miss PSDT. His immense work ethic and determination lifts the team every time. Like Schalk in the old days.




Also Kade must start @ 10

[assfly]

It's not the only thing layered at WP

[Sards]

It's not the only thing layered at WP

Dang.......

that's too much " Charcoal Oven and Grill ".....


out of curiosity , amongst the posters on here...
have you lost weight or gained weight over 2020...

I lost about 4kgs...

[handyman]

A journalist named James Dalton? Unfortunate...

[handyman]

Great to see all the activity on this here fred, all of 7 pages, the Bulls are on the second page and the rest all on the first page. As they say, die hoogste bome vang die meeste wind. We are what the other teams aspire to be and aspire to beat. We have the history, the tradition and the pedigree. We are the biggest and best in Africa.

Come at us boets.

[Chilli]

Great to see all the activity on this here fred, all of 7 pages, the Bulls are on the second page and the rest all on the first page. As they say, die hoogste bome vang die meeste wind. We are what the other teams aspire to be and aspire to beat. We have the history, the tradition and the pedigree. We are the biggest and best in Africa.

Come at us boets.

I admire your quiet confidence.

[handyman]

Great to see all the activity on this here fred, all of 7 pages, the Bulls are on the second page and the rest all on the first page. As they say, die hoogste bome vang die meeste wind. We are what the other teams aspire to be and aspire to beat. We have the history, the tradition and the pedigree. We are the biggest and best in Africa.

Come at us boets.

I admire your quiet confidence.

Thanks boet, yes no need to make a song and dance about it, we all know where we stand.

[Sards]

Great to see all the activity on this here fred, all of 7 pages, the Bulls are on the second page and the rest all on the first page. As they say, die hoogste bome vang die meeste wind. We are what the other teams aspire to be and aspire to beat. We have the history, the tradition and the pedigree. We are the biggest and best in Africa.

Come at us boets.

I admire your quiet confidence.

Thanks boet, yes no need to make a song and dance about it, we all know where we stand.

one of the comments following that article was that supporters need to take action and stop being the victim of the board.....
Sadly the supporters have no balls or consequence .Just merrily whiling the time away hoping for a change. And your ex players have shown no guts in challenging the board...there's just no connection between them and the union

[‘tsek]

Waaaaay off topic (but so are all saffa threads sooner or later) where is the farmhouse Rinky?

Acton Homes.

Hope things have settled down Heidelberg way and you aren't having any more issues with any more Mozambicans.

Settled down yes, had to spend the day in Lichtenburg. For those mining inclined, a Saturday Section 54. Got home in time to watch the match (with the right result). Got a headsup from a neighbor re. a transformer (not mine but on neighbouring property) that is a target. So watching same. Might have some action tonight. Probably wont. Might sleep, probably wont. Sometimes platteland sucks.

[Chilli]

SPOTLIGHT: The ever-evolving Western Province Rugby Football Union financial saga is about to get another new and intriguing chapter.

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It has been revealed that the WPRFU is ready to start talks with an ‘A-grade Commercial Bank’ to replace Dream World as the union’s benefactor.

This development is contained in a billet-doux communicated to the clubs this week.

The ‘memorandum’ – as it is titled – followed the bomb dropped by Flyt CEO Zane de Decker just over a week ago, when he revealed that his company was to claim ‘damages’ from WPRFU, over the latter’s decision to renege on the deal the two groups signed in June.

De Decker threatened to “call up the secured loans” that the Flyt Group holds over the Newlands stadium and other properties.

Should the ‘marriage’ end in an ugly divorce – as seems likely – it would be the third time in less than a year that WPRFU changed ‘partners’.

After walking away from agreements (which included loans) with Remgro and Investec, WPRFU also dropped their lawyers Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes (the Blouberg-based company that represented them throughout the negotiations and finalisation of the term sheet and loan agreement with Flyt) like a hot potato.

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Korbers Inc, a legal firm operating out of Cape Town central, is now acting on behalf of the union and sent a letter to Flyt – claiming the Newlands and Brookside properties were ‘undervalued’ in the agreement and should be valued between ZAR377-million and ZAR390-million, rather than the ZAR112-million of the agreement.

In this capricious and metamorphosing environment, it is clear that the two ‘partners’ are not in cordial discussions.

In fact, it is safe to say that the two groups are communicating only through their legal teams.

De Decker – before @rugby365com was aware of the communiqué to the clubs – suggested as much.

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“We are still awaiting a formal response from the WPRFU to the letter sent by the Flyt Group’s attorneys last week,” he told this website in a written reply.

In the ‘memorandum’ to the WPRFU ‘members’ De Decker stands accused of being guilty of ‘grandstanding’ and ‘puffery’.

In a broad dispatch to its members, the WPRFU memorandum responds to every point in De Decker’s statement from the previous week.

It also addresses what appears to be one of the key technical issues – and point of dispute – between the two partners, whether there is a legal and binding agreement between the two.

“It should be noted at the outset, that De Decker describes the entity with which the union concluded the agreements as the ‘Flyt Group’,” the memorandum states.

“This has clearly been done in order to address various material technical difficulties which Flyt has.

“But, in any event, there is no such entity (either in law or in fact) as the ‘Flyt Group’.

“Flyt changed its name, shortly before concluding the Term Sheet, from a shelf-company called Any Side Investments [Pty] Ltd, and Dream World, for its part, is another shelf-company with only one director.

“Neither [Dennis] Venter nor De Decker is a director of Dream World.”

However, the real pearler is right at the end of the dispatch.

It says WPRFU is willing to return to the negotiation table should De Decker agree to the parties’ being restored to the ‘position they were in before the agreements were concluded’.

“An agreement could be reached whereby the loan amount [ZAR112-million] is returned against the release of the union’s assets.”

This confirms that the union’s assets – Newlands, Brookside and other properties – are held as security for the Dream World loan.

The memorandum adds: “The WPRFU has already set up discussions with an A-grade Commercial Bank to replace Dream World as [a] lender.”

@king365ed
@rugby365com

..............................................

[Rinkals]

Glad to see that WPRFU continues to be run in a consistent ethical manner.

[Rinkals]

Acton Homes.

Hope things have settled down Heidelberg way and you aren't having any more issues with any more Mozambicans.

Settled down yes, had to spend the day in Lichtenburg. For those mining inclined, a Saturday Section 54. Got home in time to watch the match (with the right result). Got a headsup from a neighbor re. a transformer (not mine but on neighbouring property) that is a target. So watching same. Might have some action tonight. Probably wont. Might sleep, probably wont. Sometimes platteland sucks.

Moved my reply to the Saffers Fred where it's probably more appropriate.

[Chilli]

https://rugby365.com/opinion/second-pha ... 7o3WEiJ49U

OPINION: As the dust settles on a disjointed, yet satisfying, Currie Cup season, it is perhaps time to look at some of the posers facing one of the franchises.

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Most of the unfavourable headlines in the past 12 months – certainly throughout 2020 – have swirled around Newlands.

If Western Province’s Currie Cup semifinal exit was the cause of much discontent and displeasure for Cape Town fans – at the very least an anticlimax in the way they performed in their last outing at Newlands – the boardroom rhubarbs remain a much bigger boil that is about to pop.

If you believe the WP brains trust, it is all under control.

Routinely you will hear – from Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais and Ebrahim Rasool, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Western Province Professional Rugby (Pty) Ltd – they have the best ‘property portfolio’ of any union in the world and the most impressive playing roster.

However, given the events of the past year, it would be easier to believe a used car salesman than bank on the Newlands saga being settled amicably.

Given that the WPRFU and WPPR have ‘separated’ the powers and functions of the union and the company, there are two issues at play – future income streams for the company (Rasool’s baby) and the resolution of the Newlands stand-off (Marais’ predicament`).

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Let’s start with a quick recap of the Newlands saga.

Having upset Remgro to the extent that their Stellenbosch benefactor walked away, they also reneged on a deal with Investec to develop Newlands (after heads of agreement had already been signed and a loan extended). That saw them turn to the Flyt Property group to get a loan to pay off the ZAR112-million they now owed their two former benefactors.

The Flyt-WPRFU marriage is now also on the rocks, with Flyt CEO Zane de Decker having gone public with his intention to claim ‘damages’ from WPRFU, over the latter’s decision to renege on the deal the two groups signed in June last year. De Decker threatened to “call up the secured loans” that the Flyt Group holds over the Newlands stadium and other properties.

That public spat is still ongoing, with the lawyers racking up the billable hours.

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Speaking of lawyers. Not only have WPRFU walked away twice from previous benefactors and looks set to do it a third time, but they also dropped Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes (the Blouberg-based company that represented them throughout the negotiations and finalisation of the term sheet and loan agreement with Flyt) like a hot potato. Korbers Inc, a legal firm operating out of Cape Town central, is now acting on behalf of the union in their spat with Flyt.

Then there is MVM saga. Marco V Masotti, the South African-born-and-bred American lawyer, was so fed up with the WPRFU shenanigans that he took his consortium and their money and promptly signed a deal with the Sharks.

Despite all this, the WPRFU President, Marais, insists that ‘all is well’ and they have done nothing untoward.

“Everything we have done to date is in the best interest of WP Rugby and to ensure that it remains a sustainable organization for many years to come,” was Marais’ response to @rugby365com, when asked about suggestions he might be held personally responsible for the losses and costs incurred in the Newlands saga.

Keep in mind 2021 is election year. Already there are many propagations of a pending boardroom stand-off between the President, Marais, and his deputy, Moneeb Levy. If the Cape Town grapevine is to be believed, the main protagonists will have Marais and recently re-elected executive member Ronald Bantom in the one camp, with Leevy and Rasool in the opposite corner.

While that epic saga continues to play itself out, Rasool is trying to keep afloat a company that has already been bankrupted once.

(Article continues below video …)
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Despite their impressive playing roster – which will remain in place till July – their Currie Cup campaign can only be described as ‘underwhelming’.

How do they turn this around in the next month, before the next competition gets underway?

The first order of business is the move to the Cape Town Stadium.

As the saying goes: ‘A change is as good as a holiday!’

Will the new environment revive and refresh the team? Will they be able to shed the Newlands baggage? Has the player contract uncertainty been resolved?

No matter how much they deny it, John Dobson and his coaching staff have been hamstrung by all the boardroom set-tos.

What assistance will they get from Rasool? What changes will/can Rasool implement?

There is an argument to be made in favour of Rasool, that he arrived at the height of the Newlands saga, in the middle of a pandemic lockdown and inherited a broken system.

However, he has had five months to settle in and has an ideal opportunity to implement any changes he may wish to forge.

Recent media dispatches suggested Rasool is courting a benefactor from Dubai in a desperate bid to retain the franchise’s horde of World Cup-winning Springboks.

There is no doubt the Cape Town outfit is in desperate need for ‘positive’ changes.

The next competition – be that the Franchise Cup (domestic) or Rainbow Cup (in Europe) – will indicate what progress has been made.

How will the executive powers take them forward? Will we see the same trudging performances? Is it all talk and no action?

Will it be much of the same – coequal plots, sub-plots, stand-offs, dramatic exits, underhanded tactics and perfidy?

Will we again see the main ingredient of any good drama: CONFLICT?

It is clear from the past year that the Newlands boardrooms were not congenial and serene environments.

@king365ed
@rugby365com

And so it continues...............I wonder who the Dubai investors are?

[Sards]

Routinely you will hear – from Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais and Ebrahim Rasool, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Western Province Professional Rugby (Pty) Ltd – they have the best ‘property portfolio’ of any union in the world and the most impressive playing roster.

handyman is Zelt Marais and I claim my free pass to the next game at Newlands

[Sards]

https://rugby365.com/opinion/second-pha ... 7o3WEiJ49U

Recent media dispatches suggested Rasool is courting a benefactor from Dubai in a desperate bid to retain the franchise’s horde of World Cup-winning Springboks.

T

And so it continues...............I wonder who the Dubai investors are?

Guptas.....Provincegate is about to be real

[OomStruisbaai]

https://rugby365.com/opinion/second-pha ... 7o3WEiJ49U

Recent media dispatches suggested Rasool is courting a benefactor from Dubai in a desperate bid to retain the franchise’s horde of World Cup-winning Springboks.

T

And so it continues...............I wonder who the Dubai investors are?

Guptas.....Provincegate is about to be real

Guptas is van KZN. Ons is Arabiere.

[Chilli]

OPINION: The facts of the Newlands saga are well documented. However, what do the fans, the broader public, think about it all?

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Angus Opperman, a self-proclaimed ‘massive’ fan, wrote an open letter to Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais.

He did not pull any punches!

Dear Mr Marais.

I know exactly what I want to say, but I’m not quite sure how to say it. However, here goes.

Back in 2016, when all the trouble started with the Aerios claim and the liquidation took place, I and many other fans were very worried about the road ahead for the WPRFU. Many things happened between then – with a Currie Cup win in 2017 and final in 2018 – which plastered over the cracks that we are now starting to see re-emerge as even bigger rifts.

When you ‘succeeded’ Thelo Wakefield, I was cautiously optimistic. I realized that you had inherited a mess, but I honestly thought that you had the intellect, integrity, drive and, more importantly, the leadership to make the right decisions to ensure that the future of Western Province Rugby will look bright again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, what looked like a dark road ahead turned into a dark pit with no light in sight.

We as fans eventually, with heavy hearts, had to make peace with the fact that we had to say goodbye to our beloved Newlands stadium, if it meant that our rugby team will still continue to exist and we could have enough financial resources to keep our best players and even sign a few more where we lack depth in certain positions. You had Investec lined up and turned on them, now Flyt property group are on the books and you are turning on them (also), because you feel that the properties were undervalued, after you stated it was the “deal of the century”. A friend of mine made a great example, saying “if I sell my car on Gumtree, I can’t go back to the guy and say I want it back because I feel it is worth more”. You are burning bridges left, right and centre, Mr Marais, and people will think thrice before doing business with you and the WPRFU (in the future).

Andre van der Veen was tasked to find an investor, and he did. Despite the fact that you did not renew his tenure, you dragged on with the MVM holdings deal until they decided they had enough and went to the Sharks, who are now also signed with Roc Nation sports. That could have been us, you know. It feels like knowing you had a chance with the girl of your dreams but you still messed around and now she dates your biggest rival. That is how it feels to me as a fan. Ebrahim Rasool claimed that you did not want to sell the family jewels, but if Flyt gets their damage claims with all the properties of the WPRFU signed off as security, are you telling me you’d rather give the family jewels away?

You did not want to concede control, you want an investor with a minority share for you to still bang the drums and do things your way, which, let’s be honest, has not worked at all. We are at a stage where we will lose the bulk of our top players, going into a new European competition with clouds of uncertainty hanging over everyone involved at the union. The senior guys begged you to take the deal and you didn’t respect their wishes. If my boss gave me the finger like that, I would also gladly pack up and leave to work for the opposition, as many former WP players already have and even more so in future will as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

I don’t know much about business, finances, etc. I do know that we as a union were at a crossroad and we took the wrong path. The question is, Mr President: What will you do to fix this mess?

The side’s performance in the semifinal was a result of what is happening at the top. I have worked in a toxic and unhappy environment before. You try your best, but you simply cannot seem to ever be at your best. I feel for the players and coaches.

There’s currently talks about a deal out of Dubai to keep the cream of the crop in the Cape. With the union’s track record as of late, seeing is believing. I’d also be reluctant to put pen to paper before I’m 100 percent sure that there’s money available for my salary as the players reportedly have not done as of yet.

It’s bad enough we lost a promising prospect such as my friend Jaco Coetzee. I get the feeling he’s leaving with a heavy heart after our last conversation, when his move to Bath Rugby was announced.

I ask you one thing – as a fan with over 20 WP and Stormers jerseys and many other merchandise items, who has watched over 80 games at Newlands and never thought twice about spending his hard-earned cash on merchandise, tickets and faithful club memberships to support his team in every way possible.

Please save our union and stop messing things up, we are now the Newlands GATVOL, not the faithful!

Regards

Angus Opperman
@AngyboyJ

At least 1 fan is starting to stand up.

[Sards]

OPINION: The facts of the Newlands saga are well documented. However, what do the fans, the broader public, think about it all?

ADVERTISEMENT

Angus Opperman, a self-proclaimed ‘massive’ fan, wrote an open letter to Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais.

He did not pull any punches!

Dear Mr Marais.

I know exactly what I want to say, but I’m not quite sure how to say it. However, here goes.

Back in 2016, when all the trouble started with the Aerios claim and the liquidation took place, I and many other fans were very worried about the road ahead for the WPRFU. Many things happened between then – with a Currie Cup win in 2017 and final in 2018 – which plastered over the cracks that we are now starting to see re-emerge as even bigger rifts.

When you ‘succeeded’ Thelo Wakefield, I was cautiously optimistic. I realized that you had inherited a mess, but I honestly thought that you had the intellect, integrity, drive and, more importantly, the leadership to make the right decisions to ensure that the future of Western Province Rugby will look bright again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, what looked like a dark road ahead turned into a dark pit with no light in sight.

We as fans eventually, with heavy hearts, had to make peace with the fact that we had to say goodbye to our beloved Newlands stadium, if it meant that our rugby team will still continue to exist and we could have enough financial resources to keep our best players and even sign a few more where we lack depth in certain positions. You had Investec lined up and turned on them, now Flyt property group are on the books and you are turning on them (also), because you feel that the properties were undervalued, after you stated it was the “deal of the century”. A friend of mine made a great example, saying “if I sell my car on Gumtree, I can’t go back to the guy and say I want it back because I feel it is worth more”. You are burning bridges left, right and centre, Mr Marais, and people will think thrice before doing business with you and the WPRFU (in the future).

Andre van der Veen was tasked to find an investor, and he did. Despite the fact that you did not renew his tenure, you dragged on with the MVM holdings deal until they decided they had enough and went to the Sharks, who are now also signed with Roc Nation sports. That could have been us, you know. It feels like knowing you had a chance with the girl of your dreams but you still messed around and now she dates your biggest rival. That is how it feels to me as a fan. Ebrahim Rasool claimed that you did not want to sell the family jewels, but if Flyt gets their damage claims with all the properties of the WPRFU signed off as security, are you telling me you’d rather give the family jewels away?

You did not want to concede control, you want an investor with a minority share for you to still bang the drums and do things your way, which, let’s be honest, has not worked at all. We are at a stage where we will lose the bulk of our top players, going into a new European competition with clouds of uncertainty hanging over everyone involved at the union. The senior guys begged you to take the deal and you didn’t respect their wishes. If my boss gave me the finger like that, I would also gladly pack up and leave to work for the opposition, as many former WP players already have and even more so in future will as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

I don’t know much about business, finances, etc. I do know that we as a union were at a crossroad and we took the wrong path. The question is, Mr President: What will you do to fix this mess?

The side’s performance in the semifinal was a result of what is happening at the top. I have worked in a toxic and unhappy environment before. You try your best, but you simply cannot seem to ever be at your best. I feel for the players and coaches.

There’s currently talks about a deal out of Dubai to keep the cream of the crop in the Cape. With the union’s track record as of late, seeing is believing. I’d also be reluctant to put pen to paper before I’m 100 percent sure that there’s money available for my salary as the players reportedly have not done as of yet.

It’s bad enough we lost a promising prospect such as my friend Jaco Coetzee. I get the feeling he’s leaving with a heavy heart after our last conversation, when his move to Bath Rugby was announced.

I ask you one thing – as a fan with over 20 WP and Stormers jerseys and many other merchandise items, who has watched over 80 games at Newlands and never thought twice about spending his hard-earned cash on merchandise, tickets and faithful club memberships to support his team in every way possible.

Please save our union and stop messing things up, we are now the Newlands GATVOL, not the faithful!

Regards

Angus Opperman
@AngyboyJ

At least 1 fan is starting to stand up.

Thats the problem...the rest just sit on their gat and talk about how fantastic WP is..and they call themselves hard-core supporters....

Get a movement going ffs....I have been saying this for months..
If this was the Bulls or Sharks management would be going down......its a family man...not a dictatorship

[OomStruisbaai]

Sards you do the same with your beloved Sharks. Onnosel vok.

[Sards]

Sards you do the same with your beloved Sharks. Onnosel vok.

None so blind as those who refuse to see.Pride always comes before the fall...

[Sandstorm]

OPINION: The facts of the Newlands saga are well documented. However, what do the fans, the broader public, think about it all?

ADVERTISEMENT

Angus Opperman, a self-proclaimed ‘massive’ fan, wrote an open letter to Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais.

He did not pull any punches!

Dear Mr Marais.

I know exactly what I want to say, but I’m not quite sure how to say it. However, here goes.

Back in 2016, when all the trouble started with the Aerios claim and the liquidation took place, I and many other fans were very worried about the road ahead for the WPRFU. Many things happened between then – with a Currie Cup win in 2017 and final in 2018 – which plastered over the cracks that we are now starting to see re-emerge as even bigger rifts.

When you ‘succeeded’ Thelo Wakefield, I was cautiously optimistic. I realized that you had inherited a mess, but I honestly thought that you had the intellect, integrity, drive and, more importantly, the leadership to make the right decisions to ensure that the future of Western Province Rugby will look bright again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, what looked like a dark road ahead turned into a dark pit with no light in sight.

We as fans eventually, with heavy hearts, had to make peace with the fact that we had to say goodbye to our beloved Newlands stadium, if it meant that our rugby team will still continue to exist and we could have enough financial resources to keep our best players and even sign a few more where we lack depth in certain positions. You had Investec lined up and turned on them, now Flyt property group are on the books and you are turning on them (also), because you feel that the properties were undervalued, after you stated it was the “deal of the century”. A friend of mine made a great example, saying “if I sell my car on Gumtree, I can’t go back to the guy and say I want it back because I feel it is worth more”. You are burning bridges left, right and centre, Mr Marais, and people will think thrice before doing business with you and the WPRFU (in the future).

Andre van der Veen was tasked to find an investor, and he did. Despite the fact that you did not renew his tenure, you dragged on with the MVM holdings deal until they decided they had enough and went to the Sharks, who are now also signed with Roc Nation sports. That could have been us, you know. It feels like knowing you had a chance with the girl of your dreams but you still messed around and now she dates your biggest rival. That is how it feels to me as a fan. Ebrahim Rasool claimed that you did not want to sell the family jewels, but if Flyt gets their damage claims with all the properties of the WPRFU signed off as security, are you telling me you’d rather give the family jewels away?

You did not want to concede control, you want an investor with a minority share for you to still bang the drums and do things your way, which, let’s be honest, has not worked at all. We are at a stage where we will lose the bulk of our top players, going into a new European competition with clouds of uncertainty hanging over everyone involved at the union. The senior guys begged you to take the deal and you didn’t respect their wishes. If my boss gave me the finger like that, I would also gladly pack up and leave to work for the opposition, as many former WP players already have and even more so in future will as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

I don’t know much about business, finances, etc. I do know that we as a union were at a crossroad and we took the wrong path. The question is, Mr President: What will you do to fix this mess?

The side’s performance in the semifinal was a result of what is happening at the top. I have worked in a toxic and unhappy environment before. You try your best, but you simply cannot seem to ever be at your best. I feel for the players and coaches.

There’s currently talks about a deal out of Dubai to keep the cream of the crop in the Cape. With the union’s track record as of late, seeing is believing. I’d also be reluctant to put pen to paper before I’m 100 percent sure that there’s money available for my salary as the players reportedly have not done as of yet.

It’s bad enough we lost a promising prospect such as my friend Jaco Coetzee. I get the feeling he’s leaving with a heavy heart after our last conversation, when his move to Bath Rugby was announced.

I ask you one thing – as a fan with over 20 WP and Stormers jerseys and many other merchandise items, who has watched over 80 games at Newlands and never thought twice about spending his hard-earned cash on merchandise, tickets and faithful club memberships to support his team in every way possible.

Please save our union and stop messing things up, we are now the Newlands GATVOL, not the faithful!

Regards

Angus Opperman
@AngyboyJ

At least 1 fan is starting to stand up.

Thats the problem...the rest just sit on their gat and talk about how fantastic WP is..and they call themselves hard-core supporters....

Get a movement going ffs....I have been saying this for months..
If this was the Bulls or Sharks management would be going down......its a family man...not a dictatorship

Only a fool would "stand up and protest against his Union" during a global pandemic where Rugby is 12th most important thing at the moment. The fans have been excluded from these negotiations because we cannot actually have any impact, like refusing to buy tickets or something.

And please stop comparing Sharks "senior player revolt" to the Stormers fans doing nothing. A Sharks fan hasn't got out of bed for 20 years, let alone stood up to his Union a few years ago. That was 1 former player only who wrote a similar open letter.

[Sards]

There we go....good on you....let it play out and let the management handle it.

[Chilli]

So news is that PSDT has made a full recovery after the STOMPS played him into the ground while injured.

He is back at training and ready to sign a contract with a union that can actually afford him.

[assfly]

Rumours that Malhere is in talks with the $harks

[FalseBayFC]

Rumours that Malhere is in talks with the $harks

We would welcome that fat bastard with open arms. A couple of runs on the beach and a decent KZN diet will see him looking like a Greek God instead of a Greek tearoom owner.

[Chilli]

Rumours that Malhere is in talks with the $harks

Where did you hear the rumour about Fatty moving to the $harks?

I like what you did there.

[assfly]

I like what you did there.

Someone on Rugby365.

Yea I thought you would

[Chilli]

https://rugby365.com/countries/south-af ... hFttsBfYjU

Angus OppermanANGUS OPPERMAN
WATCH as Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais talks to @rugby365com contributor Angus Opperman about the infamous Newlands saga and gives his side of the story.

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Marais was responding to an ‘open letter’ by Angus Opperman, a self-proclaimed ‘massive’ fan and freelance reporter.

In a broad-gauged interview, Marais addressed everything from ‘fake news’ in the media, the ‘inconsistent’ performances of the Stormers/WP team, the Remgro/Investec saga, the ongoing fight with Flyt and the move to the Cape Town Stadium.

He spoke of the ‘amateur money’ that was invested in the Springboks that won the 2019 World Cup

“No other province or franchise has contributed as much as we [WPRFU] has done,” Marais said.

“Never before in the history of the game has a franchise did so much,” the WPRFU boss added.

Marais suggested that the current financial issues have their legacy in a period starting with his predecessors.

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“From the union’s side, we are sitting here with the strongest base in the world – in terms of the clubs and schools structures,” a defensive Marais said.

He added that the board is working on retaining the top (Springbok) players, adding the COVID-19 pandemic has become a massive spoke in the WPRFU wheel.

Marais called on the government to play a bigger role in assisting sport to recover from the financial ‘crisis’ it find itself in.

“We should ask the politicians what they are doing to assist an industry that is one of the biggest employers in South Africa – if not the world,” he said.

(Continue below video … )
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The WPRFU boss also touched on the prospect of a ‘foreign investor’ – without confirming reports that a Dubai-based benefactor is that ‘new partner’.

“We have a lot of things in the pipeline, [including] partnerships with foreign people.”

He accused Marco V Masotti, the South African-born-and-bred American lawyer, and his consortium, MVM Holdings, of spreading “misinformation” over the proposed deal that went south and resulted in MVM signing with the Sharks.

He said it was the club structures that turned down the Masotti offer, not himself (Marais).

“I was trying to keep it together for a long time,” Marais said.

He described the reported offer of US$6-million as a “big, big lie”.

Marais blamed discarded independent director André van der Veen for “getting the sums wrong” in the saga that resulted in the breakdown of the negotiations.

The WPRFU boss accused MVM of trying to ‘bribe’ the clubs in an effort to push the deal through.

“They had secret meetings with the clubs,”he said, adding that they offered the clubs ZAR25,000 each.

Marais described a US$10,000 fee they wanted to charge Masotti for a tour of the Cape Town stadium as a “fine” for breaking “every non-disclosure agreement” between the parties.

The WPRFU boss reiterated an earlier statement that the current dispute with Flyt is “in the hands” of their legal people.

Marais suggested moving to the Cape Town Stadium means the WPRFU is “worse off” and said he “forewarned” the previous CEO that this was going to happen.

“I had my reservations on the matter [moving to CT Stadium, but The horse bolted five years ago,” he said.

@AngyboyJ
@rugby365com

[FalseBayFC]

Seems JD Schickerling is considering a move to the Sharks.

[Chilli]

Seems JD Schickerling is considering a move to the Sharks.

He would be a great addition to the $harks.

[Chilli]

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curr ... s-20210208

Gazza ggggggooooooooooooooonnnnnnnneeeeeee?

[Blake]

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curr ... s-20210208

Gazza ggggggooooooooooooooonnnnnnnneeeeeee?

I really hope he goes. Not because I want to get rid of him at WP/Stormers, but because I want to see if he can live up to the hype in a different environment.
If he can't shine in a Championship team with a winning culture and under the guidance of Morne Steyn and a World Cup winning coach...then everybody can move on and focus on some other overhyped youngster.

[Chilli]

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curr ... s-20210208

Gazza ggggggooooooooooooooonnnnnnnneeeeeee?

I really hope he goes. Not because I want to get rid of him at WP/Stormers, but because I want to see if he can live up to the hype in a different environment.
If he can't shine in a Championship team with a winning culture and under the guidance of Morne Steyn and a World Cup winning coach...then everybody can move on and focus on some other overhyped youngster.

You make a very good point.

[handyman]

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curr ... s-20210208

Gazza ggggggooooooooooooooonnnnnnnneeeeeee?

I really hope he goes. Not because I want to get rid of him at WP/Stormers, but because I want to see if he can live up to the hype in a different environment.
If he can't shine in a Championship team with a winning culture and under the guidance of Morne Steyn and a World Cup winning coach...then everybody can move on and focus on some other overhyped youngster.

I agree in principle, but I would like to see him in England, on soft and muddy grounds where he can forget about his stepping.

[assfly]

I agree in principle, but I would like to see him in England, on soft and muddy grounds where he can forget about his stepping.

I disagree, that's quite an outdated view of English rugby. Have a look at Marcus Smith from Harlequins, he's probably got the best sidestep in the NH at the moment and is quite similar to Willemse in this regard:



I'd like to see Willemse play there because he'd thrive under professional coaching.

[handyman]

I agree in principle, but I would like to see him in England, on soft and muddy grounds where he can forget about his stepping.

I disagree, that's quite an outdated view of English rugby. Have a look at Marcus Smith from Harlequins, he's probably got the best sidestep in the NH at the moment and is quite similar to Willemse in this regard:



I'd like to see Willemse play there because he'd thrive under professional coaching.

Point is, he is going to experience different conditions in an environment where he is not going to be over hyped.

[Sandstorm]

Willemse.....in an environment where he is not going to be over hyped.

Wrong login, Sards.

[handyman]

Willemse.....in an environment where he is not going to be over hyped.

Wrong login, Sards.

Being a premier poster, I'm 100% impartial even when it comes to my team.