Businessman and now part owner of the Lions rugby union, Robert Gumede, spoke to Jacques van der Westhuyzen about his vision for the Lions.

IOL Sport

JACQUES VAN DER WESTHUYZEN: Why the Lions, considering they’ve been in the dumps for the better part of 10 years?

ROBERT GUMEDE: “I’m an entrepreneur, not a businessman … and there’s a difference. I take risks. I’ve done so in business and I’ve succeeded and that’s been the making of me. The Lions, like the business I bought a few years ago, have been at the top and they’re now down at the bottom. In ‘95 they produced 13 World Cup winning Boks, plus the coach, then they went to sleep and lost players. Poor management cost them dearly. I see a massive opportunity here, Johannesburg is the heartbeat of Africa and we should be on top again.

JACQUES: How would you like the players to perceive you?

RG: Players need to know everything is fine, that there is nothing to worry about except the performance on the field. They want to know that their salaries are good, that they’re not living hand to mouth and that they’re part of a professional set-up. They also need to know that there’s a vision for growth – something that’s been sorely lacking in the past – and I think they know I can provide that. Players knowing that the leadership of the union is spending his own money on them, investing in them, gives them comfort and provides security. They now know we’re in this together, we win together, we lose together.

JACQUES: Do you believe in quotas?

RG: Thank God the new minister of sport says that quotas in sport are a thing of the past. But we mustn’t criticise the quota system … it was through quotas that people finally realised we had to transform the game of rugby. The focus on quotas has been with us for too long though; we have forgotten about what matters most and that is development of rugby at school level … we’ll achieve nothing in terms of transformation if we don’t get this area right. Why have we not learned from a small country like Australia? They’ve a small population yet they produce champions in all sporting codes. It shows what can be achieved when there’s development at schools level. At the Lions we’re going to be focusing on developing kids all over Johannesburg and get them to play rugby.

JACQUES: Will you play any role in team matters?

RG: Absolutely not. We’ve got one of the best coaches in the world in John Mitchell and he’s been tasked to do his job, with the responsibility that goes with it. Mitch is my CEO … I may be chairman of the board, but my job is to listen to him, hear what his plans and strategies are and give him my full support. I’m not going to get involved in team selections and game plans. If he wants to recruit a player he must tell me and if the player’s available and we can afford him, I’ll get him … it’s not about who I like and want, but who he needs to make the team successful. I can only measure the coach on his success on the field, based on me having availed all the tools to him.

JACQUES: Do you think the fact the Lions are now 50% black-owned will inspire more black kids to play rugby?

RG: Change brings fear on the one hand and expectation on the other. The whites will be fearing my involvement, while the black kids will have expectations of playing for the Lions whether they’re good enough or not. So what we have is a fine balancing act. Those who are up to it and are good enough will remain, those who are not will be discarded and won’t be part of our plans, whether they’re white or black. We want to run a successful business here … the 35 players in the final Super Rugby squad must be the best, black or white. Everything about the Lions in future will be about quality and efficiency. Transformation is important, but I want no quota system in my team.

JACQUES: The Lions have been mooted as the Manchester United (or City, depending on who you believe is the wealthiest and strongest in England), what do you say of that?

RG: I want the Lions to be Africa’s team. People in Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and so on play rugby and support the game and I want them to connect with the Lions and make us their team. I’m hopeful they’ll identify with us and our vision and support us.I’d love the Lions to be the team everyone talks about … and with our sponsor MTN and me and Ivor (Ichikowitz, who’s also got a stake in the Lions) doing business in Africa we’ll make sure this team becomes the biggest on the continent.

JACQUES: You’ve talked about giving fans ‘sport-entertainment’ at Lions games. What do you mean by that?

RG: Rugby is a game of thrills played over 80 minutes. But in today’s world you need to give the fan more than that … and it’s got to be for the whole family, not just the men of the house. Watch this space, but it’s going to be razzmatazz at Lions games from now on.

What I can tell you is that if the other rugby teams don’t follow what the Lions are going to be about in future they’re going to be smacked into oblivion.