Multi-million-rand sports complex near Middelburg lies in ruins
A sport complex with kitchens, dining halls, accommodation, clubhouse, soccer field and cycling track is in ruins.
A multi-million-rand sports complex near Middelburg, Mpumalanga that could have been the saving grace for a group of 30 young emerging cyclists, lies in ruins and is in disuse.
According to the Middelburg Observer a sports official cynically said this week that the only sport practised there was ‘breaking glass bottles on the cycling track’.
What is the Naledi Sports Complex?
The complex is located about 15km outside Middelburg on the Duvha road in the mining town of Naledi. It consists of kitchens, dining halls, single-person accommodation, a clubhouse, a stadium, with a 500m cement cycling track, and a soccer field.
The land belongs to Seriti Power.
The original vision: A high-performance centre
According to experienced cycling official and father of the Amashova Project that assisted emerging cyclists, Riaan Koegelenberg, the entire complex was donated to the Mpumalanga provincial government. It was to serve as the Mpumalanga High Performance Centre.
Early efforts and quick disappointment
According to Koegelenberg, the provincial department of sports immediately set up a ‘high performance gym’ in one of the facilities in the main building.
“Only the best equipment was in there. The University of Pretoria’s High-Performance Centre would be involved initially to help with the province’s sportsmen. They were on site once or twice, but without athletes, what do you do there?
“The only ones who could use the gymnasium were a soccer team from Witbank. I think it was the Witbank Black Aces,” Koegelenberg said.
A coach’s fight for young cyclists
Koegelenberg did an impact study on behalf of the Middelburg Cycling Club to get track cycling off the ground in Mpumalanga, with a budget for fixing the cement cycling track, which was still in very good condition and would not cost much to repair.
“This was done and submitted to Cycling SA through the protocol channels. It was reported that there were no funds. Submissions were also made to the provincial government to repair the pavilion, part of which was damaged in a fire, for the soccer spectators…”
Broken glass and ‘no funds’: The drack’s decline
“The Amashova Project children and I started sweeping the track, because it was the biggest challenge to pick up broken glass bottles before the track could be used. It was time-consuming because the 500m track takes a long time to clean.
“For me, who worked with up to 30 children, it would be ideal…The track is away from traffic and safe to train on…
“Sad to say nothing came of the upgrade due to the ‘no funds’ feedback, and the team and I also lost hope of going sweeping, because there was no security at the track and buildings. The only sport that was practised was breaking bottles on the cement track,” says Koegelenberg.
From sports hub to high-crime area
The Seriti group did not respond to several enquiries regarding the future of the complex.
A source within the group said, “Currently, the village is a problem area with all the ‘illegals’ living there. It is not the mine employees who live there. A lot of criminal and illegal activities take place, and it is a high-crime area.”
Mpumalanga Department of Sport pledges to investigate
Surprisingly, the Mpumalanga Department of Sport responded within an hour with the following statement by Butini Ngoma: “I have noted the information about the project which is presumed to have been donated to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.
“The department will follow up with the Provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, as custodian of the provincial infrastructure, to get more information and, where possible, take a tour of the complex before any official response can be made…”
Enquiries were also sent to the Mpumalanga government’s sports portfolio, but feedback was not received before publication.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
