The Southern Kings' PRO14 rugby team was given a huge shot in the arm on Monday following Isuzu Motors South Africa’s announcement they would be sponsoring the franchise.
Isuzu Motors South Africa will be partnering with a consortium of predominantly black business people, The Southern Kings and Eastern Province Rugby, through its sponsorship of the Isuzu Southern Kings rugby team franchise for a three-year period.
The announcement was made at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Monday morning.
The Isuzu Southern Kings will achieve a historical milestone by becoming the first black-owned rugby franchise in the country.
Binding offers have been submitted by the relevant parties, with SARU EXCO approval and other transaction closing conditions set to take place over the coming weeks.Isuzu Motors South Africa Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Michael Sacke said the company was excited to be the main sponsor of the Southern Kings rugby team franchise under new ownership.
“The Kings represent an ideal partnership opportunity as we are both new companies who are only just starting our journeys. We both have our sights set on achieving sustainability, growth and success for the long run.” Sacke said.
“We urge the residents of the Eastern Cape to join us in rallying behind the Kings, so that we can help build a strong rugby base in our region.”
Sacke continued to say that Isuzu Motors South Africa was passionate about the local community and committed to contributing towards the success of the region.
“As an innovative and solutions-orientated automotive company, we are proud of our Eastern Cape roots and as such are pleased to be partnering with our local rugby team.
We hope that this will ultimately help boost the local economy through increased sports tourism and other spin-off opportunities,” Sacke said.
On behalf of the proposed consortium – a group of like-minded business people have rallied together to pool resources to build rugby talent in the region – Loyiso Dotwana said the community deserves a rugby team which it can be proud of.
“We want to build a professional and competitive team for the long run. Our long-term ambition is to achieve incremental growth which ultimately will result in the Isuzu Southern Kings winning the GUINNESS PRO14 Championship,” Dotwana said.
“By creating an academy and team here, we want to retain the Eastern Cape’s talent. This is the home of black rugby – our team will promote social cohesion in South African rugby.”
The consortium has entered into discussions with the Nelson Mandela University with regards to reviving the Rugby Academy and thus providing incubation and training for the team.
Further announcements in this regard will be made in due course Isuzu Souther Kings chief operations officer Charl Crous said this “places the franchise in a position it has never been before”.
“We now have a long-term commitment from a sponsor and we are able for the first time, to plan and build a sustainable franchise for the long run,” Crous said. Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip said they wanted the Bay to be “the country’s sporting destination of choice”.
“Rugby is a critical part of that, which is why we need strong clubs and unions that nurture, retain and promote local talent. This is a new era for the Southern Kings, after years of travails and challenges,” Trollip said.
“With a sponsor like Isuzu committed to this initiative, the trajectory is only up. The metro is proud to support the next chapter for our Southern Kings, and requests that every resident get behind the team on its way to Guinness PRO14 victory.”
The Isuzu Southern Kings will be wearing their brand-new jerseys when they open their 2018/19 GUINNESS PRO14 Championship campaign in Parma, Italy, where they play the Italian side Zebre on August 31.
Their first home game in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be on September 16 when they take on Ireland’s Ulster Rugby and again on September 22 when they take on Glasgow Warriors (Scotland).