The Ballito Dolphins Rugby Club has found itself heavily in debt after its title sponsor has failed to pay a single cent of their sponsorship agreement.
According to club chairman Kevin Murphy, title sponsors B’rit Resources have left the Dolphins in a dire situation with debts up to R275 000 left to be paid.
In January last year the Dolphins signed a sponsorship deal with B’rit valued at R1.2 million over a three year period. To date none of the money promised to the club has been paid.
“We have worked closely with B’rit throughout this time and there really was no animosity between us. But after continual broken promises for over 14 months, enough is enough,” Murphy said.
The club’s chairman described the situation as a roller coaster of emotions with promises of payment being made time and time again. The failed agreement has had a number of consequences for the club. The Dolphins are still without a home ground and are currently practicing on the Salt Rock Country Club’s bowling greens having to play all their leagues games away.
For the past few years the Dolphins have played their rugby at local schools and Murphy is grateful for the help they have received.
“The schools have been fantastic, we are eternally grateful for their help. We have signed a lease agreement at Sugar Rush and planned to have a rugby pitch ready for the season,” Murphy said.
Once again, their sponsor has let them down and the new pitch will most likely not be ready until next year.
Louis Botha, who is the co-director of B’rit Resources in South Africa, signed the deal on behalf of the company in January last year. Murphy has been unable to get hold of Botha for the past few months.
The Courier contacted Craig Jamieson, the lawyer who wrote up the contract agreement between the two parties. Jamieson has been in contact with Botha and gave a statement on his behalf.
“He (Botha) confirmed that the Brit Group is fully committed to the sponsorship of the Dolphins and will get the funds to the club as soon as they are released to the company, which has always been the case.
“Unfortunately the company has had various compliance issues to resolve and this has caused untold delays,” said Jamieson.
However Murphy’s patience has run out.
“We did our utmost to meet our terms of the agreement but the time has come for this to end. Their excuses have been exhausted,” said Murphy.
Murphy has officially removed B’rit from their club title and is now appealing for help from the community.
“Our new home at Sugar Rush will be the first sports club in Ballito for many years. We want to emphasise that it will be a club for the whole community.”
On the rugby side, the first and second teams have started their season and despite the financial troubles of the club, attendance at practices has been good.
Contact the club via email at info@ballitodolphinsrugby.co.za or email Kevin Murphy at chairman@ballitodolphinsrugby.co.za.
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