After hosting its second AGM, the Edenvale Sports Grounds Committee, now known as the JP Bezuidenhout Park Sports Ground Committee, hopes to further develop the sports facility and improve security.
Re-elected chairperson Louis Antonopoulos said the April 25 meeting went well, reigniting the vision and plans of the committee.
He explained since the first AGM, some of the committee members’ lives have changed.
“Personal portfolios have grown and things have changed, but we are still committed to the sports grounds,” said Antonopoulos.
ALSO READ: Edenvale Football Club hosts junior trials
The new exco consists of Antonopoulos (chairperson), Ernie Enslin (vice chairperson), Ronny Kuipers (secretary), Aneline Butler (treasurer), Vic Dos Santos (security) and Dean Backos (marketing).
Antonopoulos said the decision to rename the committee was to pay homage to the town’s history.
“As a sporting facility, the home to 10 sporting codes, we hope to strengthen our relationship with the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) sports heritage recreation arts and culture department.
“Something which would like to see introduced to the sports grounds is a paddle court on the southern side of the property near Horwoods Farm.”
He said by doing this, the committee hopes that more can be offered to the community in partnership with the CoE.
ALSO READ: Edenvale Football Club prepares to turn pink for cancer awareness
Antonopoulos said with security being a priority at the sports grounds, he said it will be one of the key points the committee focuses on this year.
“There is continuous vandalism and attempted theft. We have discussed these matters and potential solutions at great length and even had informal discussions with surrounding community members about the security problems.
Over the years, the various sporting facilities have been vandalised, damaged, and targeted by opportunistic criminals believed to reside in open land between the sports grounds and Consalves Avenue.
“As a community, we need to work together and share ideas,” said Antonopoulos.
He said with the community’s backing and support, the sports grounds should become safe.
One plan the committee has to improve security is to fence the individual sporting codes, keep the Fifth Street gate closed as much as possible, and install additional security cameras.
“As the various sporting codes and the exco, we have tried our best to improve security and we will continue to do so.
“With our focus being the sports grounds, we can improve the situation in the surrounding area with the community’s help.”
