WP: 'The Titanic has hit an iceberg'

By Jan de Koning

Tuesday 15 Sep 2020

SPOTLIGHT: With doggedness of a pit bull, Marco V Masotti is forging ahead to get a deal across the line that will provide Western Province with the lifeboats they need.

Masotti, a Durban-born, New York-based lawyer, through his consortium, MVM Holdings, is in negotiations with the Western Province Rugby Football Union for a controlling share in WP Professional Rugby (Pty) Ltd, the business arm of the WPRFU.

However, the horse-trading is not moving as fast as it should be and - depending on which grapevine your information is from - there could be deliberate efforts from within the WPRFU coterie to sabotage the talks and further individual agendas.

Masotti admitted that the talks are at a crucial juncture, but said there is no specific deadline for it to be concluded.

"I would like to get the deal done as quickly as possible," he told @rugby365com, adding: "There is a lot of work to do.

"The players and clubs really need it [the agreement] to happen."

He dismissed suggestions that he is about to walk away, despite the obstacles they have encountered and the ongoing boardroom perfidy.

WPRFU President Zelt Marais has even gone public with his claim that there were 'treasonous acts' within the union - describing them as "disgraceful" and "unbecoming" of leaders.

"While we want it done quickly, we are committed to getting it done," Masotti said.

"We are not going anywhere. We have no choice.

"The players, the clubs and the community absolutely must have it."

He admitted the union is in a precarious financial position.

"The Titanic has hit an iceberg," he said, adding: "We urgently need to get them lifeboats.

"We need to communicate our plans so that everyone joins in."

Masotti said the contracting of key players is an important aspect of the negotiations.

"The players are the assets of the business."

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