New R25m sports centre completed in Giyani

LIMPOPO – The Greater Giyani Municipality has ushered in a new era for sports and community development with the completion of the long-awaited Mavalani Sports Centre in Mavalani village recently.

The modern facility, which cost the municipality R25.1 million, represents a major milestone in the municipality’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and create opportunities for young people across the municipality.

Municipal spokesperson Steve Mavunda said the project reflects the municipality’s commitment to uplifting communities through meaningful development.

“The new sports centre stands as a tangible symbol of this commitment, designed to provide residents, particularly the youth, with a safe and modern space to engage in sporting activities,” he said.

He added that the facility is expected to become a hub for promoting healthy lifestyles, nurturing sporting talent, and fostering youth development across the Greater Giyani Municipality area.

Meanwhile, the completion of the sports centre follows a string of other projects recently undertaken by the municipality, including road construction and upgrades in several sections of Giyani, such as Section A, F, E, D1, D2, and Kremetart.

According to Mavunda, the sports centre was one of the high-priority projects identified by the municipality and has now been officially completed and handed over to the municipality by the contractor.

“Now that the project has been completed, preparations are underway for its official handover to the community of Mavalani village,” he said. The handover ceremony is scheduled for November 21 during the municipality’s mayoral imbizo in the area.

“This event will not only mark the official opening of the sports centre but also give residents a platform to interact directly with municipal leadership, discuss development priorities, and celebrate this important milestone,” explained Mavunda.

The new sports centre features four sporting codes, tennis, volleyball, netball, and basketball courts, bringing to the village facilities that were once limited to urban areas.

“This combination of courts will expose the community to different sporting codes and create opportunities for young people to showcase and grow their talents right where they live,” said Mavunda.

He also highlighted the centre’s versatility, noting that it can serve as a multi-purpose venue for community events, recreational activities, and social gatherings, saying the sports centre was not just about sport, “but about bringing people together.”