Stellenbosch CEO explains why club won’t tap into Remgro Group billions

The Winelands side has instead built a template around unearthing talent in the region, while carefully monitoring the transfer market without breaking the bank.

Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube, where he discussed all things Stellies, Benadie was asked why the club does not simply tap into the war chest available to it.

"That is true. I mean, we do get a bit of that from the start. You know, you would have, whether it's players, agents, thinking that there's a lot of money within the Stellenbosch Football Club because of our ultimate chairman," Benadie said

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"That's not the way we really run businesses. It's got a decentralised management system that Remgro operates with, which means that the different business entities that they are invested in, happen to be 100% investment, which is Stellenbosch Football Club, but they allow management of the different companies to really manage it and to try and become self-sustainable businesses. Now, our business isn't a business to make any profits.

It's what we call an impact investment. So, you know, you mentioned Mr. Rupert's name and Remgro, fantastic people, and they've invested in a number of different impact investments, whether it's on the rugby, the golf, other sports, community projects, Stellenbosch Football Club. There's really a host of different impact investments that we manage and operate on an annual basis."

"So, yes, you're right. I mean, our chairman has a lot of disposable income, you can say, and we could give Sundowns a run for it if we spent a lot more money. Our strategy might change in future, but for now, we want to try and be self-sustainable and run the football club along the lines of trying to at least break even."

Benadie also acknowledged the challenges faced by PSL clubs in getting sponsorships on board, which has not really been a big stumbling block for Stellies. 

The Stellies boss refuted the notion that they are a team that only sells their best assets to their bigger rivals.