On Saturday, the East Rand community welcomed the Ballers Indoor Arena to the neighbourhood.
Located in Elspark, Ballers offers a professional academy for the young ones, to teach them all the skills they need to better themselves.
Opening with a bang, proud owners, Lebohang Mokoena, Basil Hunter and Nicholas Farinha kicked off their new business venture with a day filled with sport, action and entertainment, as they held their very first tournament.
For sports enthusiasts, the arena offers exquisite, up-market professional sporting facilities, including two beautiful FIFA approved Astroturf soccer fields and an indoor cricket and netball court.
Players, who are parents, do not have to worry about their children as there is a supervised children’s play and entertainment area.
The bench warmers can enjoy a stunning bar and Pizzeria Café area, which boasts big screen TVs, a pool table, foozeball table, Play Stations and an action-packed view which overlooks the soccer fields.
The three business partners all have astounding soccer backgrounds and talent which they are going to be sharing with the youth.
Mokoena currently plays for the PSL soccer team, Mamelodi Sundowns, Basil Hunter played professional soccer in Greece for three years and Nicholas Farinha was part of the Orlando Pirates reserve team.
When they heard that there was an opportunity for youth development — the South African Soccer Association stated that young talent will be scouted and moulded into professional soccer players — they took it.
These men are putting their talents to good use as they also opened the very first professional indoor soccer children’s academy in South Africa.
“This sporting arena offers the best of the best facilities; in order for people to develop skills into talent, they need to be given the opportunity and we, at Ballers Indoor Arena, are giving them the chance,” said Mokoena.
In 2008, Hunter came up with the notion and dream of Ballers Indoor Arena and, since then, has always been adding ideas, altering this and that, seeing what works and what does not, and today, six years later his dream is his reality.
“Owning my own soccer indoor arena has literally consumed my every thought for the past few years; it was all I could think about,” he said.
“I didn’t want just an ordinary indoor soccer venue; I wanted to provide sportsmen with the best of the best facilities, a place to build skill, play hard sports and a place to enjoy a good, welcoming environment.
“I achieved my dream beyond expectations.
“If you are looking for a new hobby, sport or a place to relax, meet new people and just enjoy yourself, Ballers Indoor Arena is the place to be.”
“We welcome everyone and anyone with arms wide open and we look forward to having you as a part of the BIA family,” said Farinha.
