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Bloemfontein – There have been meetings with the Cheetahs rugby team about the current sponsorship crisis in the run-up to the Super 15 season, and even coach Naka Drotské has been using his contacts to solve the problem.
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About a month before the start of the Super 15, the Cheetahs are still looking for a main sponsor after Vodacom's sponsorship expired at the end of last year.
The Cheetahs will play their first match in the Super 15 on February 19 against the Sharks, with supporters worried about the future of their team.
According to Harold Verster, managing director of the Cheetahs company and the president of the Free State Rugby Union (FSRU), the last thing that the union wants is for the players' attention to be distracted from the Super 15.
"I have had a complete session with the team and the larger group to inform them as to where we are at."
"Afterwards, I had a meeting with the management team, which included all the coaches and assistant coaches."
"We also had a complete staff meeting (on Wednesday morning)," says Verster.
He says although some players were worried, the matter doesn't have a negative impact on the team's preparations.
Verster says the main sponsor is definitely a big source of income, but there is enough money to pay the players.
"We have contracts with all our players until October this year, and with a couple of key players until October next year. It doesn't influence the players as such."
”Sponsorships are an important part of our finances, but they aren't the core of all that we have. If we don't get a main sponsor, it will obviously put pressure on us, but at this stage it is not a route we have to follow."
Verster says sponsors are being recruited in all kinds of ways and that even Drotské's knowledge is being used.
"There is also an Australian company that is looking at a sponsorship on the sleeve of the Cheetahs jersey and we are awaiting news on this."
"Our coach, Naka Drotské, also has had contact with two or three companies that we are looking at. With his (Drotské) rugby travels around the world, he has made several contacts."
Bloemfontein – There have been meetings with the Cheetahs rugby team about the current sponsorship crisis in the run-up to the Super 15 season, and even coach Naka Drotské has been using his contacts to solve the problem.
Click to vote and WIN in the Sport24 Annual Awards
About a month before the start of the Super 15, the Cheetahs are still looking for a main sponsor after Vodacom's sponsorship expired at the end of last year.
The Cheetahs will play their first match in the Super 15 on February 19 against the Sharks, with supporters worried about the future of their team.
According to Harold Verster, managing director of the Cheetahs company and the president of the Free State Rugby Union (FSRU), the last thing that the union wants is for the players' attention to be distracted from the Super 15.
"I have had a complete session with the team and the larger group to inform them as to where we are at."
"Afterwards, I had a meeting with the management team, which included all the coaches and assistant coaches."
"We also had a complete staff meeting (on Wednesday morning)," says Verster.
He says although some players were worried, the matter doesn't have a negative impact on the team's preparations.
Verster says the main sponsor is definitely a big source of income, but there is enough money to pay the players.
"We have contracts with all our players until October this year, and with a couple of key players until October next year. It doesn't influence the players as such."
”Sponsorships are an important part of our finances, but they aren't the core of all that we have. If we don't get a main sponsor, it will obviously put pressure on us, but at this stage it is not a route we have to follow."
Verster says sponsors are being recruited in all kinds of ways and that even Drotské's knowledge is being used.
"There is also an Australian company that is looking at a sponsorship on the sleeve of the Cheetahs jersey and we are awaiting news on this."
"Our coach, Naka Drotské, also has had contact with two or three companies that we are looking at. With his (Drotské) rugby travels around the world, he has made several contacts."
