Phakisa Holdings speaks on its departure as East Rand United’s main sponsor
The Advertiser recently visited former East Rand United’s long-serving main sponsor, Phakisa Holdings Group, at their offices on the border of Boksburg and Germiston. The local newspaper visited the offices to get the sponsorship side of the story following its departure as the Reiger Park outfit’s main sponsor – a decision which saw a bulk …
The Advertiser recently visited former East Rand United’s long-serving main sponsor, Phakisa Holdings Group, at their offices on the border of Boksburg and Germiston.
The local newspaper visited the offices to get the sponsorship side of the story following its departure as the Reiger Park outfit’s main sponsor – a decision which saw a bulk of senior players following suit to the exit door.
ALSO READ: ERU, main sponsor part ways
It was a move that would evidently leave a number of unimpressed faces at United and one that would paint a bad picture of Phakisa, but Phakisa chief operations officer (COO) Werner Pretorius has now ironed out any misconceptions that have been linked with the end of the partnership between the two parties.
Among the topics discussed are regrets, the history between the two parties and how the relationship between the parties began, to list a few.
To open his discussion, Pretorius said: “I’ve had a relationship with the club for a long time, I myself played rugby there.
“My relationship with East Rand United started early 2004, roughly there, where we sponsored the club with jerseys and that sort of stuff.
“Then I got involved with the club again in 2015 where they were still playing with the same jerseys that we sponsored them with previously,” he continued, before entering the gist of the story.
“We sort of sat down with the guys (after returning in 2015); we had a four-year plan (starting from 2015): we wanted to play in the Merlin League, which we did good in.
“We then progressed to the Peregrine League. Our obvious goal with the club was to play in the Gold Cup and I think in the four years we enjoyed two finals with the first team. First year in the Peregrine, we didn’t do so good, the second year we went to the final and lost marginally, and the year after we also went to the final and also lost marginally.
“Then after our loss against Springs – remember from the onset, there would’ve been a four-year plan with East Rand United – and after the Springs final, we had our four years with East Rand United,” explained the COO.
“It came to light that we could play Gold Cup, what we initially set up to do via a wildcard decision that was made by Saru and we played. But I think starting the Gold Cup, it was also said to management that it would be Phakisa’s last year with East Rand United.
“So it was well communicated, it was well prepared that after last year’s rugby season, Phakisa will part ways with East Rand United.”
When the Advertiser asked Pretorius if on-field results had anything to do with the split and whether the company has any regrets from the partnership, he explained: “Even if we did win the league (particularly the game against Springs), we would’ve left anyway.
“Phakisa’s ultimate goal was to help the team win the league and participate in the Gold Cup. And that was the goal set up by everyone around the table.
“I think we did achieve our goals, we took a club that played in the last league and put them on the map in the first league. Remember, trophies are not always the only sign of victory; it’s what was achieved by the club and its members.
“Remember, it’s been said that it’s Phakisa that built the club and everything, but Phakisa was only a sponsor. The club was built by its players and the management at the time. So Phakisa was only a financial supporter of the club. It wasn’t Phakisa that built the club, it was the structures that were at the club,” stressed Pretorius.
Any regrets?
“Not at all, not at all. Rugby is in my blood, rugby made us who we are today – so no, no regrets, none at all.
“I know there are a lot of people saying we tried to close the club, that’s not why we left, we left purely because there was an agreement that we would stick to the club up to the point where we could play Gold Cup. And we did that.
“Nothing personal, we got involved with the club because we love the game and we love the people. It’s about the people at the end of the day. It’s not about the money, it’s always been about the people.”
On how the relationship between the two parties really took off, Pretorius said: “I think bearing in mind my involvement with the club and everything, we said we could make a difference in so many people’s lives.
“You must remember, it was not only the first team that benefited from the sponsorship, it was the whole club. I think in the Peregrine League, where we competed, we were the only club that paid their u-21s and the second team as well. And we had the third team last year as well participating in the Volcano Cup.
“So, according to me, we were the only club doing that.
“We wanted to leave the club running as smoothly as possible, we wanted to leave with the infrastructure and everything in place so that new people who will be involved with the club can join a well-established club.”
You can listen to the full interview on Caxton Radio
