Red card for Rocky Park football field

The Rocky Park Football Club in Stanger has been under construction since April 2013, but was abandoned six months ago, leaving it incomplete, unsafe and not suitable for playing games or training.

“We as a community are very concerned that our club, which has been in existence since the 1970’s and has produced many great football players, is unusable, forcing our youngsters to walk at night to other community sports fields as far as Glen Hills and Stanger Manor for training,” said Eldry Leibrandt, secretary of the Rocky Park Football Club.

She said that the players, management, supporters and the general residents of Rocky Park are anxious with the current state of the sports facility, not only because it cannot be used, but also that it is now susceptible to vagrants, loitering and gangsters using it as a hideout for their activities.

“There is currently no information on what is happening and we cannot really determine the root cause of this delay.”

She added that they have not received any feedback from the municipality or the community liaison officer, who is normally appointed as part of the project team.

The field has not been properly graded or leveled, the building debris has not been removed and the goalposts are unsafe and have no nets.

There are also no spotlights for night training and games.

Furthermore, the pavilion was poorly erected and the concrete has cracked, steps are not level and the platforms are at dangerous heights, without precautionary protection.

She also said the parking area is incomplete with no demarcation of parking areas and no signposts, speed limits, speed humps or pedestrian crossings have been erected.

“The new change rooms have not been officially handed over, therefore they remain locked with weeds growing as high as the roof eaves.”

The club cannot invite teams to visit or host football events, as they have no sports field, which further impacts their sponsorships and fund raising.

“We as management are now faced with sustaining the club out of our own pockets for referee fees, transport costs and sporting equipment. We find it very difficult to understand, that even though we have two community football teams and a junior academy, we do not have our own sports field.”