At least 25 members of Strand Rugby Football Club (RFC) have expressed dissatisfaction with club chairperson Gershwin Leyds and demanded he be removed from his position at the club’s annual general meeting next Wednesday (30 November).
In a grievance letter signed by the members, which include senior players and coaching staff, a number of accusations is brought against Leyds, including lack of leadership and biased decisions.
The matter reached the point of no return for the aggrieved members when Strand RFC announced the signing of Ramone Samuels as the club’s director of coaching on Tuesday 25 October.
Samuels is a former DHL Stormers hooker who featured in the 2017 South Africa “A” side, and brother to Springbok utility back Damian Willemse.
“This appointment was done without any consultation with any members;we saw it for the first time in the newspaper,” said Joe Mentoor, the club’s under-20 coach, who said he had joined the club under the ideals of transparency and youth development.
“But neither has come to fruition. Our ideas and opinions are dismissed and the chairperson becomes hostile when questioned or provided a different point of view.
“We’ve been asking for the club’s constitution [to be shared] for 10 months, but haven’t received it, neither have we seen financial statements. For us it is clear the chairperson is using the club’s brand for personal gain. He’s been the chairperson for more than seven years and it’s time for him to go.”
Strand RFC recently won promotion to the Western Province Super League B in the 2023 season.
“Where is the recognition for the hard work by members who helped this team succeed? No-one is being promoted from within the club and this is bad for development,” Mentoor pointed out.
He added the 25 players will collectively lobby to garner support for a motion of no confidence to be lodged against Leyds to be replaced as head of the club.
First team player Christiano Beckett labelled the club’s management as “backward”, claiming and there was no development of current structures to allow for individuals to grow within the organisation’s ranks.
“This has always been a community club . . . Many players are concerned youngsters are being overlooked,” Beckett said. “Every time we raise an issue or have a suggestion, it is just sidelined. Players feel as if their opinions and ideas just don’t matter. Now, with new appointments in management, our voices are just being drowned.”
A statement from the club said it is aware of the grievances and that it preferred to deal with it internally.
“According to the letter, some players have noted their displeasure with the current leadership of the club,” the statement read. “The process of grievance and dispute resolution must be handled and dealt with internally, and these aggrieved players approaching the media to air their concerns is not healthy for any community-based sporting organisation.
“Strand RFC remains a loyal, trustworthy, strong community-driven organisation [aimed at] providing a platform for young, aspiring and talented rugby players.”
The statement does not detail how the club is addressing any of the allegations levelled against its chairperson.
