THE Rhinos and Empangeni Rugby Football Club (ERFC) is heading into the 2014 season with a
R195 000 bank overdraft – and no sponsorship confirmed for the year.
At the club’s Annual General Meeting on Monday, the precarious financial situation was placed in focus.
The big news was that Thanda Private Game Reserve pulled their sponsorship off the table for this year.
Thanda used to donate R250 000 towards the club, but halved their sponsorship last year.
Their total withdrawal now leaves the club without a sponsor just nine weeks before the start of the season.
In addition, the good news about provincial players being made available to Empangeni this season when they are not doing duty for the Sharks, comes at a price which will further place strain on the budget. The club will have to pay the four Sharks players’ transport costs.
‘We have been very active approaching local businesses, big and small, hoping to address the situation,’ said ERFC Chairman Simon Harvey.
‘We did not incur a loss in the last financial year, and will use accumulated funds to rectify the situation.’
