Happy Friday ladies and gents

It's time for another #KnowYourOwner thread and today I look at

Owners behind @MaritzburgUtd
Kadodia brothers income
Other directors
Msunduzi Municipality funding
Social responsibility

#SportBusiness #CashNSport #PSL

As usual, I'll post my disclaimer. I'm not an auditor, accountant or statistician nor am I a sports journalist. I'm merely a fan who likes to read up on the business side of sport and this is all publicly available information.

Let's begin

Maritzburg United Football Club was formed in 1981 and from the onset, a Kadodia was involved. The team were then campaigning in the now defunct Federation Professional League with 19-year-old Farook Kadodia already in the football business.

The club exchanged hands and was run by other individuals until 1997 when Farook and his brother Imraan purchased the club again. In 2005 the PSL status of Tembisa Stars was purchased and Maritzburg United were in the big time. But just who are these brothers and their partners?

Beginning with the club chairman and the driving force, Mohamed Farook Ahmed Kadodia. Born and bred in Maritzburg, he is a 60 year old businessman who matriculated from Raisethorpe High School in Maritzburg in 1979.

He opted not to study further and, jumped straight into football administration and business at the age of 19 and hasn't looked back since.

#KnowYourOwner #DStvPrem #PSL

Farook is a very successful businessman with interests in a number of companies, primarily in the FMCG sector. He is a shareholder in at least ten companies that I could verify with the oldest being Omar's Cash And Carry which was registered in 1987.

The biggest money spinner for Farook according to DNB is Muzika Investments which was established in 1991 and is one of KZN's largest buyers and sellers of FMCG products to factories and supermarkets. The company has an estimated annual revenue of R111 million according to

His brother, Imraan Kadodia is also a businessman in the FMCG sector. He's owner of Royal Rice Company which has been in existence since 1999 and is in the food wholesale, groceries and related products sector. It has estimated annual revenue of $9.17 million as per DNB

There are a number of other companies linked to the Kadodia brothers, namely Dawnlite Candles, Evening Star Trading and Romano Ice Creams.

The entities have interests in property, building supplies, investments, transportation and consumer goods products.

#KnowYourOwner

The one major company that is linked to all the directors of Maritzburg United is Cromwell Park Investments, a property rental, leasing and manage business which was incorporated in 2006.

#KnowYourOwner #DStvPrem #PSL

There is little known about the other directors but what I could verify is that Fakie Abdool Khatib is a director in at least five other companies including 3S Multibrand Distributors which is in the medical field.

Mohomed Bashir Amod Moosa is the other director and he is behind Diamond Bright Beverages which owns the Island Thirst fruit juice and water brand among other companies.

#KnowYourOwner #PSL #SportBusiness

Despite the vast incomes of their directors, Maritzburg United are in the football business which is a money pit and they do this without a title sponsor. To augment the clubs income, they have received R60 million in funding from the Msunduzi Municipality in years gone by

The initial contract expired this year and the municipality is considering renewing the deal.

This has caused a massive scandal because they want to do this despite owing Eskom more than R200 million and being technically bankrupt.

#KnowYourOwner #Maritzburg

In addition to the municipality income, Maritzburg signed another peculiar partnership in October 2019 announcing that Liberty Midlands Mall is now the 'Official Shopping Mall Partner for Maritzburg United' on a two year deal.

Liberty Midlands Mall will provide kiosk space for the purpose of selling Maritzburg club merchandise and game tickets to the public as well as parking for the MUFC supporters club.

I usually speak to any scandal that may have arisen around the owners of clubs but there is really nothing more to note on Maritzburg United besides the Msunduzi Municipality funding issue which is not of their making. Onto the corporate social responsibility

Maritzburg United social have a comprehensive social responsibility mandate which centers around using football as a force for change in the community. Part of the Municipality's sponsorship of the club includes a requirement for them to give back to the local community

They have over 50 initiatives they are involved in including coaching clinics, school visits, assisting the elderly at homes and other venues.

Kadodia has also spoken of his joy at helping the community by building multi purpose courts to get kids more active

The leadership team behind them are a close knit group with deep roots in football. They have close family ties with impressive business track records but they need additional funding or they are in trouble.

They do their very best to keep out of the media spotlight despite the position they hold.

That concludes my ownership review of @MaritzburgUtd

Until next week

Read my previous threads here http://cashnsport.com