Vries denies rift at Pirates

ORLANDO Pirates chairman Mabos Vries yesterday denied that there is a rift growing between the club’s supporters and its new owner, Hendrik Dawids.

It is alleged that some supporters have little understanding of the role of Dawids, who took over the club at the beginning of the season, while some claim that there are differences about plans to transform the club into a commercial entity. Dawids, who formerly owned Blue Waters, decided on a transformation drive aimed at running the club on business principles and he has already put some measures into place to that effect.Dawids, a businessman based in Walvis Bay, brought in Shepherd Murape from Blue Waters to be in charge as head coach at Pirates, while he also signed several high-profile players to boost the club’s chances in the league campaign and domestic cup competitions.Vries told The Namibian Sport yesterday that there was no rift developing between the supporters and Dawids, saying it was just a matter of several issues that need to be clarified on managing the club.He said the supporters want a say in the transformation process, but they should understand that the new owner will have the prerogative of putting systems in place to make the club flourish in business terms.Vries did not want to elaborate on the specific ideas that the supporters have in mind for the transformation process, saying that more light on these will be shed at a meeting planned for Sunday for all the supporters in Windhoek.A source said Dawids was not happy with some of the ideas presented to him and he felt that he should instead pull out.Vries said there was no talk of Dawids pulling out at this stage, but the two parties need to reach a compromise on the various ideas in having the club function as a business.The Namibian Sport has also established that former player and executive member Mabos Ortmann has resigned from the club due to differences with the new management.Pirates are one of the oldest clubs in the country and will celebrate their 45th anniversary next year.Vries said Dawids is currently taking care of the club’s financial obligations and this includes the payment of players.Players receive between N$2 000 and N$3 800 a month since Dawids stepped in at Pirates.Pirates are currently fifth on the MTC Namibia Premier League log with seven points from their five matches and suffered back-to-back defeats in their recent matches.Dawids, who formerly owned Blue Waters, decided on a transformation drive aimed at running the club on business principles and he has already put some measures into place to that effect.Dawids, a businessman based in Walvis Bay, brought in Shepherd Murape from Blue Waters to be in charge as head coach at Pirates, while he also signed several high-profile players to boost the club’s chances in the league campaign and domestic cup competitions.Vries told The Namibian Sport yesterday that there was no rift developing between the supporters and Dawids, saying it was just a matter of several issues that need to be clarified on managing the club.He said the supporters want a say in the transformation process, but they should understand that the new owner will have the prerogative of putting systems in place to make the club flourish in business terms.Vries did not want to elaborate on the specific ideas that the supporters have in mind for the transformation process, saying that more light on these will be shed at a meeting planned for Sunday for all the supporters in Windhoek.A source said Dawids was not happy with some of the ideas presented to him and he felt that he should instead pull out.Vries said there was no talk of Dawids pulling out at this stage, but the two parties need to reach a compromise on the various ideas in having the club function as a business.The Namibian Sport has also established that former player and executive member Mabos Ortmann has resigned from the club due to differences with the new management.Pirates are one of the oldest clubs in the country and will celebrate their 45th anniversary next year.Vries said Dawids is currently taking care of the club’s financial obligations and this includes the payment of players.Players receive between N$2 000 and N$3 800 a month since Dawids stepped in at Pirates.Pirates are currently fifth on the MTC Namibia Premier League log with seven points from their five matches and suffered back-to-back defeats in their recent matches.