Unless EP Rugby bosses can persuade big business to come on board and support them, the Elephants appear destined to continue languishing in the Currie Cup’s lower echelons.
SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer and EP president George Malgas raised hopes that a cash injection could be on the way when they announced joint efforts to secure an equity partner were at an advanced stage.
There was heartache for EP Elephants and the NMU Madibaz when their bids to win promotion to the higher tiers ended in failure.
This was by no means due to a lack of endeavour from the players who punched above their weight in the SA Cup and Varsity Shield tournaments.
An underfunded EP side were unable to clinch a top-four SA Cup finish after they ended seventh on the log.
In another setback for the region, the Madibaz came agonisingly close to winning promotion to the top-tier Varsity Cup.
They were pipped 24-21 by the University of Johannesburg in a thrilling promotion-relegation clash in Pretoria.
It is not all doom and gloom, however, because there has been growth in the EP team under new coach Allister “Toetie” Coetzee.
Coetzee says the playing fields are not level in the SA Cup, where cash-flush professional teams like the Cheetahs, Pumas and Griquas are pitted against semi-professional outfits.
Because of a lack of funding, most of the EP squad are not full-time professionals and have to balance their working and playing careers.
Ideally, Coetzee would like a squad of 25 full-time players to fulfil EP’s objective of regaining a place at the top table in SA rugby.
EP’s coach says he is busy with a long-term project, which means it could take a few more years before EP return to the Premier Division.
However, if outside financial help is forthcoming, it will be possible to grow the Elephants team much quicker.
A major concern for EP and the Madibaz is the loss of talented players to richer regions, which negatively affects efforts to win promotion.
Without major sponsors, EP are staring down a dead-end alleyway in their bid to gain promotion.
The Herald
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