Thank goodness big business came to the rescue of the ailing Southern Kings, who only a few weeks ago were described as the true definition of a helpless basket case.
Everyone knew the Kings needed lots of tender loving care if they were ever going to make a proper first of playing PRO14 rugby.
This week the ailing team were given the kiss of life they so badly needed.
It was wholly appropriate that a spectacular venue called the World of Windows hosted the announcement that the Kings had landed a double sponsorship.
So named because of its sweeping views of the North End Lake and the industrial lands beyond, the room offers scenic views of Port Elizabeth.
Few of the guests, however, were taking in the charming vistas on offer from the third floor at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
This meeting was about rands and cents and the priceless window of opportunity that has been opened for the struggling team.
It had been an open secret for some time that Isuzu Motors SA would be powering the Kings in PRO14 this season.
What had not been expected was an announcement that the Kings had new owners in the form of a consortium of predominantly black businessmen.
This was a history-making development, and it took the audience by surprise.
Consortium chairman Loyiso Dotwana left nobody at the announcement in any doubt that a new era was beckoning for the team.
Over the past few years the trials and tribulations of the Kings have been well documented on these pages and elsewhere.
It is not a pleasant statistic to be reminded of , but the Kings could win only one game out of the 21 they played last season.
For the first time, the Kings will be run by captains of industry who have earned their stripes in the cutthroat world of big business.
In professional sport it is all about winning, and the sponsors and the consortium will demand that from their team.
“We want to win matches here at the Mandela Bay Stadium and that is what it is about,” Dotwana said.
At this early stage of this marriage between business and rugby, the consortium have indicated they will not meddle in the affairs of Kings head coach Deon Davids and his team.
“We will leave the running of the team mechanics to the rugby experts. Matters like the recruitment of players will also be left to the coaching staff to manage,” Dotwana said.
The other members of the powerful consortium are businessmen Gary Markson, Rory Stear and Kenny Govender and businesswoman Vuyo Zitumane.
“While none of us has worked in rugby before, we all have track records of running successful businesses and this is exactly what the Kings need,” Dotwana said.
“It needs businesspeople running a franchise in line with key corporate governance principles. We will focus on building a sustainable and successful business.
“We are not rugby people; we are businesspeople. What we will do is set mandates with regard to budgets. We want to run a sustainable business.”
Dotwana said the consortium was underpinned by the following principles:
The community deserves a rugby team which it can be proud of. A team which represents our hopes and aspirations;
We need to build a professional team for the long run. Our long-term ambition is to achieve incremental growth which will ultimately result in our local team winning the PRO14;
We must create an academy and team here so that we can retain and grow rugby talent in the Eastern Cape; and
This is the home of black rugby and as such has an important role to play in promoting social cohesion in South African rugby.
Dotwana said the time had come for Eastern Cape rugby to look forward to a bright future.
“This is the start of a new dawn for rugby in this region.
“Let’s not focus on the past and its challenges, but rather on the future and opportunities we can create together.
“Let us do this for our region, which we are proud to tell others we come from.”
Time is not on the side of the Kings and their new sponsors ahead of their opening game against Zebre in Italy on September 1.
Davids has not even had the luxury of a friendly because he fears exposing his skeleton squad to the risk of injury.
It is vital the Kings parachute in new players as soon as possible if they want to make an impression at the start of a gruelling 21-game season.
It is going to be a rollercoaster ride for the owners, players, fans and sponsors.
This could be a marriage made in heaven between big business and rugby.