Kolisi: Sharks happy to play waiting game

REACTION: The Sharks are not willing to pay a transfer fee to obtain the services of World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi.

It was reported this week that Western Province had requested a transfer fee of ZAR1-million from the Sharks to release Kolisi from his contract.

Eduard Coetzee, Chief Executive Officer at The Sharks (Pty) Ltd, confirmed to @rugby365com that they had initiated discussions with Kolisi’s agent.

“We would like to have Siya as part of our team,” Coetzee said.

“We obtained permission from WP to talk to him [Kolisi],” he added.

However, Kolisi’s agent, Christian Abt, informed the Sharks that Province wanted a “transfer fee”, which the Sharks are not willing to pay.

Coetzee was unable to confirm the report that the amount of the transfer fee was ZAR1-million.

“Once we were told there was a transfer fee, we told the agent we would rather wait till Siya comes off contract [in October] or becomes a free agent,” the Sharks CEO told @rugby365com.

The media report that revealed WP’s request for a transfer fee suggested the announcement of Kolisi’s departure from Newlands would be announced this coming weekend.

Coetzee’s statement that they are willing to wait, suggests the announcement won’t be made for a while yet.

However, there is no doubt the Sharks believe Kolisi could be a valuable asset to the Durban-based franchise.

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The report of the move to the Sharks was based on Kolisi’s links with the franchise’s new partner, MVM Holdings

MVM Holdings, an international investment consortium spearheaded by the South African-born American lawyer Marco Masotti, entered into an agreement to purchase a 51 percent majority stake in the Sharks.

One of MVM Holdings’ partners is Vincent Mai, who has a very close relationship with Kolisi.

The Springbok captain was the first recipient of the Vincent Mai Bursary Scheme, which allowed him to attend the prestigious school Grey High in Port Elizabeth.

Kolisi also has a management deal with Roc Nation Sports International.

The company’s president, Michael Yormark, is also one of Masotti’s partners.

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