Youngsters help to clean up Potgieter Park
On March 12 founder and head coach of United Star Athletics Club, Zakhele Gumede and Ward 36 councillor Wendy Morgan explained how the athletics team has benefitted the park.
A local athletics club helps the community to clean up Potgieter Park at Fishers Hill, Primrose, daily. On March 12, founder and head coach of United Star Athletics Club, Zakhele Gumede, and Ward 36 councillor, Wendy Morgan, talked about the partnership.
The athletics club is made up of young boys and girls from surrounding areas in Primrose, namely Fishers Hill, Marathon and Makause. Morgan said the park was in a mess as no grass-cutting or refuse removal was done. Yet the club practices at the park from Monday to Thursday.
“Sometimes we train on Sundays if we are going to compete that week,” said Gumede. He said the litter in the park was an issue before they started training.
“As park users, we decided to clean up the environment.” The founder said he and the children clean the park every day before they start training.
“The challenge is that we come back the following day and there is litter in the park.” The park has recently had a few vagrants squatting in the park.
“I sometimes ask them to help us clean the park and they do help. Problem is that the vagrants smoke in the park and this is not good for the children.” Morgan added she is working on the removal of the vagrants from the park.
“I am really happy these youngsters took the initiative to clean up the park. Thank you to the coach who encourages them to do well.”
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The athletics club coach thanked his sponsors Talon and F1 Fuel Garage, which provides refreshments for the children. Both businesses are located on the same road as the park on Main Road. The coach said the club still needs more assistance from community members.
“We are appealing to the community to sponsor us with plastics bags, gloves and rakes for the cleaning.”
For the athletics club, the head coach asked for the sponsorship of training equipment such as skipping ropes and cones. Phone Gumede on 076 648 5676.
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