Richards Bay FC will finish in the top four and will boast Kaizer Chiefs-like facilities with the help of a massive sponsorship deal, according to the club's new R100 million sponsors.
The Natal Rich Boyz could be set to follow their given nickname if sentiments shared by Phakwe Gas CEO Thabiso Tenyane are anything to go by.
READ | A look at Richards Bay's multibillion rich sponsors
Tenyane was speaking at a glamorous event held at Richards Bay Harbour on Wednesday morning, where it was announced that the club would be receiving a R60 million cash injection divided into R20 million per season, as well as an additional R40 million to be invested into improving the club's facilities.
All of this from the pockets of Phakwe Gas.
"The reason they [Richards Bay] carried through in the play-offs is because I flew down and I met with them and I said, 'We will miss the opportunity if you get relegated'.
"I then said to them I'm prepared to sign and I've signed. Therefore, I then said I will give them R20 million per season for three years, but also they need certain things like a goalkeeper coach, proper facilities to train, which cannot come out of the sponsor because then it defeats the purpose.
"So, I said, 'I'm giving you an allowance of R40 million to build facilities that are going help you compete with others'.
"Because you see a situation where [Kaizer] Chiefs has lots of coaches in different departments. Chiefs have dieticians, but Richards Bay doesn't. Their fitness needs to be analysed, and the facilities need to be analysed.
"The stadium is not complete, so maybe we need to invest in that. The intention is to build them proper facilities and a stadium.
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— Richards Bay FC (@RichardsBayFC_) July 10, 2024
•Siyethemba Sithebe
•Keagan Allan
•Fezile Gcaba
•Sbani Mntungwa
•Thabiso Kutumela
•Tlakusani Mthethwa
Welcome Gents ??#NatalRichBoyZ #SoaringBackToRichardsBay pic.twitter.com/lqy884V45K
"It will never be again [just another club in the DStv Premiership], it will never be again, I can tell you. Richards Bay is going to beat the Gauteng teams because we are going to make sure that they have what it takes.
"I'm in the energy sector, people know Florentino Perez of Real Madrid, he is my partner in energy for the past 15 years. So, there is a lot I will be flying to him to learn as to how this thing [club ownership] is being done.
"The value of soccer in South Africa cannot be lower compared to the EPL or La Liga. This is the same thing, it's the same sport. There is something we are not doing right and it needs to be done right."
Richards Bay also officially unveiled their new signings, in Siyethemba Sithebe, Thabiso Kutumela, Keegan Allan,Tlakusani Mthethwa, Fezile Gcaba and Sbani Mntungwa.