Motsepe Mania Willem Strauss bullish fresh cash will help bring new frontiers
First, however, Motsepe’s millions must help get Blue Bulls out of the red
● For Blue Bulls president Willem Strauss the equation is simple. “I’d rather have 26% of a going concern, than 100% of bugger all,” the straight-talking Strauss said when asked about the Bulls’ receding stake in the organisation’s professional arm.
He has made peace with the inconvenient truth that the traditional revenue streams are running dry, while costs have gone through the roof.
It is for that reason the Bulls have entered into an equity agreement that will see them have a 26% stake in the Blue Bulls Company, while Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital Investments and Johann Rupert’s Remgro own 37% each.
They’ve ploughed R60m into the Bulls. “The Blue Bulls remain the custodians of the game in the region,” Strauss sought to put his traditional base at ease. “The Blue Bulls are the affiliated member to SA Rugby, we have the licence to play in the competitions they are currently competing in and we remain the owner of Loftus Versfeld.”
Sceptics may ask if they are merely “making the laager bigger”, or are they truly committed to the path that will help them make a sustained bull run in their annual returns?
“The great benefit for us is that we now have sustainable income for the amateur arm of our organisation. It will help us meet our transformation objectives,” said Strauss.
“The other advantage is the amateur arm no longer shares in the risk of what is happening on the professional side.”
Motsepe officially came on board a week or so ago and while his millions won’t be the panacea to all the Bulls’ ills, it can serve as Band-Aid as well as convalescence to longterm restoration.
Sure the Bulls need to stop the bleeding in their finances and player reserves, but it is the long-term benefits of drawing in Motsepe that is the pathway to mining a much larger talent pool.
“Fifty-three percent of the Bulls supporters are black,” Strauss stated matter of factly. “That’s what our market research tells us. We also have a decent footprint in the Western Cape, but particularly the Eastern Cape.”
The face of the Bulls supporter may be changing but one of sport’s great truisms remain. “We still have to perform. People love a winning team,” acknowledged Strauss.
“We want to become what the Dallas Cowboys are to American Football. We want to be the people’s team,” he said of the fivetime Super Bowl winners.
Moreover, the Bulls boss is fully aware of the patriotic fervour that has swept the nation in the wake of the Springboks’ success at the Rugby World Cup. “I want the Bulls to be a relevant team. We saw the impact the RWC win had in the Springboks’ Trophy tour. We can tap into Mamelodi Sundowns’ supporters base,” said Strauss.
With the new injection of cash he wants to spread the catchment area the Bulls have traditionally drawn from. “We want to drive the sport in Limpopo at clubs and schools. At the same time we also want to re-energise the game at traditional schools and clubs because rugby has lost a lot of players.”
Naturally with two heavy hitters from the business realm in their ranks the Bulls will increasingly be drawn to commercial imperatives. Strauss, a former promoter and agent, has an open mind, not to mention a curious streak. When he surveys untapped opportunity to the north of the capital his gaze doesn’t stop this side of the Limpopo. “I’ve always been a big supporter of Super Rugby but I recently read somewhere that 67% of rugby’s commercial value is in the northern hemisphere. We have to remain cognisant of what is out there.”
Fifty-three percent of Bulls supporters are black
Willem Strauss
Blue Bulls Rugby Union president