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Kenyan players Ian Otieno and Vincent Oburu had seen their futures in South Africa almost thrown in doubt before their club made a firm decision over their top flight status.
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ian Otieno and winger Vincent Oburu came close to having their futures at South African club Richards Bay thrown in doubt last week.
Otieno and Oburu had an impressive 2024-25 season as the KwaZulu-Natal-based club finished an impressive eighth in the South African top flight, having survived relegation by winning the playoff the previous campaign.
However, the club’s chairman received an approach last week to sell the club’s top flight status to relegated Cape Town City which has been looking for a way of retaining their place in the Premier Soccer League without playing in the second tier.
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Richards Bay chairman Sfiso Biyela revealed that he was offered up to R72 million (Ksh518 million) to sell the club’s top flight status but he turned it down over a number of reasons.
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“I’ve got someone I won’t mention by name here, they sent me a message this morning [last Tuesday], saying there’s a desperate club looking to buy in the top-flight,” Biyela told South African outlet FARPost.
“They stated that they put up R60 million. They told me if I sign, the money can kick in just the next day. And they also put R12 million or R15 million, it’ll be up to me if I take the status in the NFD [second tier National First Division].
Why Did Richards Bay Boss Reject Big-Money Offer?
“Think about it, it’s R72 million. I asked them if they knew what a legacy meant. I said to them, legacy is priceless, there’s no value you can table here, try elsewhere.”
Biyela says he could not betray home supporters by selling the club when they were just about to start enjoying watching them at home after playing the last five seasons away.
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“How can we play outside Richards Bay for five years [playing home matches in Durban] and just when people are excited that we’re coming back to town, and then we, out of the blue, sell the club,” he added.
“We all need money, but we cannot make money at the expense of people who have prayed and supported us. Where would I live. [If I sold the club]? I’d have to run away from the people of Richards Bay and stay in Johannesburg.”
Richards Bay have been in the South African top flight since getting promoted in 2022 with Otieno joining them ahead of last season while Oburu joined in January this year.
Selling the club’s top flight status would have thrown their futures in doubt as new buyers like to come in with their own men not just in the dugout but the playing unit but they can now look forward to another season in the South African league.
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