Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) have confirmed they will continue to support the provincial clubs plying their trade in the Betway Premiership Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United by giving each R1 million.
This is an initiative LTA has done for a few seasons now and renewed in the current campaign. The sides have finished inside the top 8 for the last three campaigns but have not been so lucky in cup competitions.
City currently sit in 10th place on the log with six points from five outings, while Sekhukhune are in sixth position with seven points from the same number of games.
Speaking on the side on the launch of the 8th edition of Sunshine Tour Limpopo Championship tournament, LTA CEO Moses Ngobeni said the body wants to benefit from brand equity and general trade.
“We are not giving a lot of money but we have set aside a million for each team that qualified [into the Betway Premiership],” said Ngobeni.
“So if we have got four teams in the province it means R4m. Currently we’ve got two teams because one dropped out so it’s R2m that we partner with them, just to get brand equity when they are playing.”
“But for us like the Premier indicated when those teams come to the province they also make a huge contribution besides general trade.”
Meanwhile LTA chairperson Freddy Greaver said they also understand the clubs’ challenges and want to be part of the solution in the sides’ pursuit to retain their respective topflight statuses.
Greaver added that besides helping Rise and Shine and Babina Noko stay up they’d like to see more teams promoted to the top division.
“In terms of the PSL teams as the CEO said we understand our contribution is minimal,” added Greaver.
“Firstly those teams are professional businesses and as business we understand that they have to find a way to survive and retain their status. But as a province and as a provincial government and entity in the province, we do understand the plight and the challenges that they face.
“And we want to be there to support and that’s why we have a minimal contribution that we always try to make.
“I believe KZN has five teams now. So with the two teams we feel a bit light and a bit weak and we can’t afford to lose any of those two teams out of the PSL.
“What we now need to do is see how we can get a third team and possibly a fourth team as it was at some point into the PLS. So we are very committed to that and we will do our outmost to support them because they are important for us.”