DSTV Premiership side Richards Bay FC have landed a new R100 million sponsorship deal after announcing their partnership with energy tycoons Phakwe Group.
The Richards Bay-based outfit will be participating at the elite level in the coming season of South African football after rescuing their status via the Premier Soccer League play-offs and are trying to avoid that scenario in the 2024/2025 campaign.
The Phakwe Group is a leader in the energy sector but also has various projects in the engineering, telecommunications, consulting, property and aviation sectors.
Natal Rich Boyz chairman Jomo Biyela expressed his delight at having partnered with Phakwe and revealed how much of a boost it would be to their bid to take the club to a different level.
“This is very good news indeed. This will help us bring stability to the team and it will also help us plan who comes in to help us in the technical team to add value as well as deciding what kind of personnel we are able to bring on board,” he said.
The group executive chairman Thabiso Tenyane was present for the official unveiling of the new partnership and explained how the coalition between the two entities came to be.
“The sponsoring of Richards Bay is very intentional from the background because in a year, we’ll be coming to build a big project of gas to power in Richards Bay so before we go to schools, the club was the right vehicle,” he said.
“I told the players during the play-offs that if they don’t reclaim their status then they would miss out on a big opportunity and they responded well and here we are today.”
He also broke down details of this multimillion-rand partnership.
“I will give them R20 million per season for three years but also they need certain things like a goalkeeper coach and proper facilities to be trained and that cannot come out of the sponsor, so I’ll give them an allowance up to R40 million so they can build the facilities that will make them compete with others.”
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit have moved swiftly to refurbish their squad. Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe was among six new signings unveiled at a glittering event in Richards Bay.
That list of players also includes defender Keagan Allen, who signed from SuperSport United, as well as midfielder Tlakusani Mthethwa, who joined from the now-defunct Moroka Swallows.
Newcastle-born midfielder Sithebe expressed his delight at being back in his home province, having featured in the colours of AmaZulu before. He is raring to go for the Natal Rich Boyz.
“I chose Richards Bay because everything is familiar to me and it’s closer to home as well but also the club’s offer was much better than the other ones I received,” he said.