The Golden Lions Rugby Union and co-owner Robert Gumede will sit around a table on Wednesday night to discuss reports that the IT Mogul has been undermining his own union.
According to reports Gumede has been bidding to take over Soccer City against the wishes of fellow shareholders at the Lions.
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GLRU CEO Manie Reyneke confirmed that a board meeting will take place on Wednesday, with the Gumede negotiations one of the issues on the table.
According to reports in the Johannesburg media correspondence between Gumede and Stadium Management SA (SMSA), the company contracted by the City of Johannesburg to manage the stadium, showed that Gumede has dangled a 51 percent ‘ownership’ stake through his black economic empowerment company Guma Group.
If signed, the deal will result in Guma effectively being majority shareholder in SMSA to run the 94700-seater, ZAR3.8 billion stadium – which hosted the 2010 World Cup opening game, the Final and several other matches –
Reyneke said that if the reports are true they will be “very upset”.
According to the reports Gumede’s bid in SMSA was spearheaded by his long-time friend and partner, international businessman Ivor Ichikowitz.
Ichikowitz is chairman of TransAfrica Capital and, together with Gumede, holds a 49.9 percent stake in the GLRU.
The partners have alleged that Gumede launched his bid at a time when negotiations were at an advanced stage between the rugby union and SMSA to relocate the rugby union’s offices to Soccer City in Soweto, from their current base in Doornfontein.
“We have been negotiating [with SMSA] for two years already,” Reyneke said, adding that Wednesday’s board meeting should clear the air.
“Hopefully sanity will prevail,” the Lions boss said.
The GLRU officials feel aggrieved that – should reports prove true – they were not informed as stakeholders, as required by their agreement with Gumede.
The union also feels that Gumede’s move to take over the ‘Calabash’ could scupper their plans to relocate there as anchor tenants.
“At the end of the day we will do what is in the best interest of the union,” Reyneke said, when asked if they will go ahead with their plans to relocate to Soweto.
“Those kind of decisions we won’t make without consulting with all the stakeholders.”
Fark, what the hell does it matter if Gumede buys the stake in FNB Stadium (Soccer City), next thing we’ll hear that Manie & Co have a problem about where Gumede goes on holiday or how he conducts other parts of his business.
Small-minded…. eishhhhhhh
Reyneke said that if the reports are true they will be “very upset”.
😆
Manie should remember that he is an employee. If the Boss was to take the Union’s performance over the last 2-3 years as a yardstick he (Manie) wouldn’t get a very good performance review.
Mind you, I doubt very much that he has a job description with clearly defined KPI’s, so it wouldnt matter!
I think you all miss a point, if Gumede already have the 51% , in other words the majority of SC, he will use his power to force the Lions there. The box owners will be in his hands then, because there is not enough at SC. This is a real case of a unfriendly take over. Fark and i thought the Lions have things under control.
4@ superBul:
I was at FNB Stadium (Soccer City) again last Saturday late afternoon and night for the Neil Diamond concert, as you already know…. man what a difference to the Coke-Tin, so as far as I’m concerned Gumede would be ABSOLUTELY WISE to force the Lions to go there as home base, it would be such a radical improvement!
There is enough parking around the stadium itself PLUS there is massive space at Nasrec (right next door) to park as well as braai… ect.
Hell, there is a Train Station and Gautrain Station right there as well, between FNB Stadium and Nasrec, making access a breeeeeeeeeeeeze.
There is not 1 bad rugby seat at FNB Stadium, not one!
Now compare that to the Coke-Tin, it’s surrounds as well as the amenities in the stadium itself…..
The reason why there are so many Box Suites at the Coke-Tin is simple…. there are probably about the same amount of “Visual” Box Suites which actually fronts the playing field BUT at the Coke-Tin a very large amount of Box Suites are what they call “Blind Box Suites”, which is basically a suite behind the stands with no view whatsoever of the playing field (NONE) and they basically consist of a room with bar counter, TV and a few chairs… before the rugby starts one has to walk to the rugby seats on the stadium itself, where you sit like the other normal paying customers in the actual stands.
Now back to Gumede, say he acquires 51% shares in FNB Stadium… and then forces the Lions to play from there…
Is it at all bad then that your majority owner of the Lions Franchise is also the majority owner of the stadium where the Franchise plays and calls home?
or
Does it rather then actually make logical sense to be the majority owner of the Stadium and in so doing dictate it’s use?
Gooooooooooooo Gumede!
@ grootblousmile:
You know Africa and too much power. I would hat it if the Bulls are run by a non Rugby businessman.
6@ superBul:
The Lions are ALREADY run by this man….
I agree with GBS, what is the problem, moeny makes the world go round.
Personally I think there are various reasons why it will be a step forward for the Lions to be based at the Calabash.
It will help integrate rugby, and that is a must.
It can become a motivation for many new players in the previously disadvantaged areas, and a lot of young talent to be unearthed.
It makes logistical sense.
And a change might just be what the Lions need to revitalise themselves.
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