Host of issues plague hockey club

THE future looks uncertain for one of the oldest hockey clubs in South Africa, Gongs Hockey Club, which was established decades ago. It has faced ongoing issues at Queensmead Hockey Stadium in Umbilo where the club is based.

Among their gripes are broken floodlights and an ongoing water leak which has left swamp-like conditions along the perimeter of the club.

Shane Demé, director of rules and technical for KwaZulu-Natal Hockey, told Berea Mail that the water leak has been ongoing for some four years. He added that the club pays a monthly levy to the eThekwini Municipality which own the grounds.

“The leak began pre-Covid and has gotten progressively worse. At one stage, it was almost a stream. The concern we have is that the bank comes down onto the Astroturf. Last time the bank washed down, sand washed across the Astro. We were out of action for just over two years, and the replacement Astro cost nothing short of R4m,” he said.

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Demé added that another concern was the amount of water wasted over the years.

“One would hate to know how many millions of litres have gone down the proverbial drain,” he said.

Another concern comes in the form of critters with pools of water attracting insects and reptiles to the grounds.

“We have mosquitos and frogs, and there’s the possibility of snakes. We haven’t spotted one yet, but history tells us that when there are frogs around in abundance, you are going to have snakes, and snakes are found readily in this area,” he said.

The water leak has also damaged paving on the grounds, and some concrete sections are slippery.

“At the end of last season, a university side had a braai here, and one youngster fell twice – he took two steps instead of one, slipped and fell on his back,” said Demé.

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Broken floodlights present another concern.

“At the end of 2017, there was a severe storm in Durban, and except for one or two lights, their entire structure fell down. There is also wear and tear – we have 14 to 16 bulbs that are not operational,” said Demé.

He added that poor visibility is a risk to hockey players on the Astroturf.

“If you watch people play this game – when they hit a ball, it can travel at 140 to 160 km/h. Under poor lighting, sometimes you won’t pick up the ball, and we practise here in the evening. We have youngsters as young as six years old up to grand masters players up to 75 years old,” he said. Demé added that the Astroturf was one of the first built in South Africa.

eThekwini Municipality was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

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