Stadium saga is disheartening

Molefe Namane writes:
Browsing through the gripe concerning the stadium in last week’s paper, took me down memory lane in commiseration.
As a former vice-chairperson of Tri-Ron Spurs Football Club, it is disappointing that clubs still have to go through the same challenges as those who came before them.
The issues surrounding the stadiums are nothing new.
Back in the day, we used to host professional soccer teams; this was the gist behind the intention to upgrade the Kwa-Thema facility.
Our now-defunct team engaged teams in the calibre of Wits University, Jomo Cosmos and Pretoria City, to name a few.
Playing ‘catalyst’, I drew a tentative stadium plan in the 90s as a feasibility study to arouse both local and international renovation interest.
The task of this magnitude required the expertise of determined and willing ‘horses’.
The plan reflects sections catering for first-floor seating arrangements around the stadium, including private suites on the main grandstand.
Had the implementation been a success, the facility would be an Aladdin’s cave for our daedal youth in sports.
The stadium and the halls within would serve as a hive of various activities boosting the coffers of the local town council via bookings.
Looking at Kwa-Thema Stadium presently it is disheartening because the facility has so much potential to cater to the needs of local sportsmen and women.
Poor maintenance and neglect in terms of the structure, citing how finances remain a challenge, remains shocking.
Watering the pitch cannot be considered the main maintenance. Yes, without finances nothing can be done, but we ought to do better.
The original article appeared on September 9, on the front page of the African Reporter.

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