SAD NOTE Stick saddened by Kings demise
After the decision to put PE-side into voluntary liquidation 58 people were left unemployed, without contracts
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has added his voice to the list of those airing heartache for the unfortunate Southern Kings rugby players who were left unemployed after their team was liquidated.
Stick played and coached at the Kings after a brilliant career for the Blitzboks and the liquidated franchise remains close to his heart.
At Newlands on Saturday, Stick will be coaching the Green team in a trial match against the Gold team, which is coached by another former Kings coach, Deon Davids.
Even though my main focus is on Saturday s game Eastern Cape rugby is very close ‚ to my heart,” Stick said.
It s very sad to see what s happening there.
I don t know much about the details of what exactly is happening there but my heart will always be with the Kings.
The Kings gave me an opportunity at a young age and they ve made me into the person that I am. I will always be grateful for the opportunity they gave me.”
Davids also lent his support, My saying: heart is with the players and the environment in the region. I really think that it s sad that it s happened.”
After the decision to put the Kings into voluntary liquidation 58 people who were left unemployed and without contracts.
Loose forward CJ Velleman, one of the players affected, has managed to secure a short-term loan deal at Griquas.
I can t give too much detail because even we don t even know what happened,” Velleman said.
We were training really hard, the team was looking really good. It was a young squad, so it was going to be interesting to see what would have happened.
Then, Kings chairman Andre Rademan came in and told us we were excluded from the Currie Cup.
That was a massive knock, it was a massive “blow. It was really disappointing. As far as I understand, the coaches themselves didn t even know what was coming.
A few of the guys, like Bobby de Wee, had “some really good opportunities to go overseas, but they actually decided to stay to try and build something at the Kings.”
Another Kings player, Yaw Penxe, is taking part in Saturday s Springbok trial match at Newlands.