Newly-upgraded Mbolekwa Stadium opens
Green artificial pitch for Mbolekwa Staduim in Atteridgeville was opened and is considered the biggest in Gauteng.
The R20 million upgraded Mbolekwa Stadium in Atteridgeville was officially opened on Friday.
The Tshwane Metro completed the project to address the deterioration of sports facilities in townships.
Igniting excellence is what the Tshwane Metro is striving to accomplish by the project which has one full artificial pitch at the Mbolekwa Stadium and one five-a-side with four convertible pitches at the Ga-Rankuwa Western Grounds and the Rethabile Mini-stadium in Mamelodi respectively.
“As Tshwane Metro we want to keep the youth busy and we believe we can do that through sports development in our townships. We have identified as our immediate and long-overdue responsibility, the need for transforming public spaces into dignified destinations through physical upgrading and the enhancement of facilities and amenities,” executive mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa said in his speech.
Ramokgopa also said that they have fulfilled yet another commitment they made in the Tshwane Metro in their Tshwane Vision 2055 when they said their vision is of a safe, secure and livable city.
The upgrading of the Mbolekwa Stadium included the renovation of the ablutions system, change rooms and spectator pavilion, with Western Grounds and Rethabile Mini-stadium getting new ablutions and change rooms.
These facilities were identified and confirmed after consultation with local football associations, that the five-a-side fields will be used mainly for development programmes that target juniors (u/13, u/17 and u/19).
SAFA Tshwane chairperson, Willie Mooka urged the community to take pride in artificial pitch and to not misuse it.
“This is the best artificial pitch in Gauteng and footballers should be the ones to take better care of the pitch. The pitch must be here forever.”
Mooka also expressed their gratitude as SAFA for the initiative that was taken by the Tshwane Metro.
MMC of Sports and Recreation Services in Tshwane Councillor Nozipho Tyobeka-Makeke pointed it out that the executive mayor was excessively clear by what is understood by excellence with the artificial pitch and she is confident that the Tshwane Metro has delivered with the building of a SAFA artificial pitch.
The opening of the pitch brought great excitement to the people of Atteridgeville and they showed the Tshwane Metro great appreciation.
A soccer match was played between the Tshwane City, the mayor’s team and Tshwane Legends. The Tshwane Metro female councillors also played against Tshwane Metro officials.
Ramokgopa concluded to say that the aim of the Tshwane Metro is to bring dignity to the community with the projects that are happening in Pretoria.
