EP clubs can’t wait to oust Cheeky

ALLEGATIONS of underhandedness have been levelled against Eastern Province Rugby Union president Cheeky Watson following the late postponement, on Friday, of its annual meeting.

Strong suggestions were that Watson was to be served a vote of no confidence at the annual general meeting (AGM), which was meant to take place at noon yesterday.

But the matter hasn’t gone away. A number of clubs will meet this week to discuss passing the no-confidence vote and calling a special general meeting. The union’s constitution states that they need 20% or 36 of the member clubs to sign up.

One club president, who asked not to be named, said: “We can easily get that number when we meet this week and we will push for a special general meeting, where the no-confidence vote will be tabled.

“We are dealing with tactical, smart but corrupt people here and I suspect underhandedness in the postponement of this meeting.

“For them to make the call at 4.45pm the day before smacks of tactical underhandedness.

“Cheeky wants to push the AGM to February, knowing full well that Super Rugby would have started and clubs by then would have forgotten the pressing issues in favour of Super Rugby excitement.”

EP Kings vice-president Freddie Makoki sent notice of the postponement on Friday citing South African Rugby Union’s administrative takeover of the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise as the reason.

Watson said: “I can’t comment on an exco decision.”

Last year’s elective AGM, where Watson was overwhelmingly re-elected, was attended by 239 out of a possible 258 voting delegates from clubs that fall under Eastern Province’s jurisdiction. Tables, however, appear to have turned.

A group called the Rugby Transformation Coalition — made up of disgruntled clubs — was set to serve Watson with a list of grievances dating back from his first presidential appointment in 2008.

His failure to acquire a title sponsor for the Southern Kings was a chief grievance as was the union’s failure to pay player, staff and management salaries.

One coalition member, Qondakele Sompondo of Rhodes University, said the union wasn’t properly run.

“What scares us is that all the accountability platforms — the three requisite quarterly meetings plus the AGM — have been ignored,” said Sompondo.

“Why are they running away from accounting to your people? There is something fishy.”

Eben Coltman, who ran against Watson last year, said: “We don’t know the real reason behind the postponement but I do think there is something sinister behind it.”