The multi-million sponsorship for Richards Bay has seemingly come at a cost after it emerged Chairman Jomo Biyela was not responsible for the departure of Vusumuzi Vilakazi.
Already, Thabiso Tenyane, CEO of Phakwe gas, who have pumped in R100 million sponsorship over three years, made it clear at the announcement of the deal that the next surprise that is coming is that of hiring a new coach.
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Tenyane's comments unsettled Vilakazi, who replied in the media and suggested that he is not accountable to sponsors but the club's management, i.e the Chairman, Biyela.
Tenyane, however, has remained resolute and even looked to bring in Rulani Mokwena after his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns.
In spite of taking charge of pre-season preparations and on the back of signing a new two-year contract, Vilakazi and the Natal Rich Boyz have gone their separate ways, after news broke on Monday.
Mike Makaab, CEO of ProSport International, has confirmed that the former Golden Arrows mentor is history at the KwaZulu-Natal outfit.
He suggested that someone else was responsible for Vilakazi leaving the club and not Biyela.
"I'm surprised that it's already in the media, because this is something that should be kept under wraps until it's official," Makaab said on Gagasi FM.
"So, I'm disappointed and I'm not pointing fingers, because I know it was not the Chairman of the Football Club or anyone higher in the football club... that I can tell you.
"But sadly, in football, the corridors are never quiet, the football grapevine travels quick and for me to sit here and deny it, I'd be lying. We're still talking to the club, but it's true that the relationship with the coach and the Football Club seems to be a thing of the past."
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Even though he has not directly bought the club, Tenyane could now be calling the shots at Richards Bay, after insisting that they are "an active sponsor" and "not an inactive one" when he spoke about intentions to bring in a new coach.