Former Kings chairman Loyiso Dotwana believes the franchise will never be successful as long as it is linked to amateur rugby.
Dotwana resigned from his role as the Kings chairman after handing control of the franchise back to SA Rugby this week.
On Monday, it was confirmed SA Rugby had taken back a 74% shareholding in the organisation after the Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World could not meet its financial commitments relating to the acquisition of the shareholding.
Before the takeover by the Kings’ new business consortium last year, SA Rugby had needed to step in back in 2016 to assume administrative control after ongoing issues and financial struggles.
The relationship between the Kings franchise and Eastern Province Rugby was reported to be one of the major reasons for the GRC’s failure.
In an interview with Sunday newspaper Rapport, Dotwana opened up about the GRC’s failure and reasoned that the Kings will never be successful as long as they have to share decision-making with the rugby union.
‘There is a big structural problem in SA Rugby,’ Dotwana said. ‘The problem is that 100 per cent private ownership is not allowed.
‘One of the big lessons for me – and I don’t know if all professional sports are like that – is that it’s like you’re in the middle of a political party, with all the infighting that is going on around you. You would expect people to do it for the love and good of the game, but they don’t.
‘I have always believed that EP felt betrayed when SA Rugby handed over a 74 percent stake to the GRC.’
Photo: Gallo Images
