Shepherd Soccer Club protest against gateway project
Several young soccer players joined a protest.
Several young soccer players joined a protest on Thursday against plans to transform the Caledonian soccer grounds in Pretoria into a park.
Lucky Manna, manager of the Shepherds Club, addressed the crowd and explained what impact the club had in the history of sport in Pretoria.
“We are here today to oppose the redevelopment and destruction of one of the oldest soccer clubs. This club is not only one of the oldest soccer clubs in Pretoria, South Africa or Africa, but in the world, dating from 1903. We say to you, Mr Mayor, we are not against development. We are for inclusive development,” he said.
“We say to you, Mr Mayor, and your council: stop stealing. This club was formed in 1903 from people from overseas – the Caledonian Society. The name Caledonian does not belong to the mayor. We have been punished by the previous government. We are punished now by this municipality in the quest of money and power. In the previous government it was for apartheid,” he said.
Manna said the Shepherds Club was the first in the country that championed transformation in soccer. He mentioned various big players who all made their mark in world class soccer and previously played soccer at the Caledonian grounds as Shepherd Soccer Club members.
“We are the founding members of every single professional football club in South Africa. The council is not protecting the members of football clubs. You have to look after your children. Our name, ‘Shepherd’, means exactly that. It means looking after the flock,” Manna said.
“Without you we cannot be here. There is a proposal on the table, but the council does not want to speak to us. They said in the meeting between us and the council they speak for the people. Mr Mayor, you speak for yourself, not for the people. We ask you, Mr Mayor, honour your obligation.”
The proposed development was the mayor’s project and not the people’s, Manna said.
“Do not destroy what is here. We have over 14 organisations that use this field on a continued basis. I ask the mayor, do some consultations, speak to the stakeholders, and speak to the interested parties. Do not dictate. We will stop this proposed development. We will stop the mayor from destroying this field.”
Manna scoffed at the idea of the Caledonian soccer field being transformed into a park.
“It is a fallacy to think people will come from the outskirts of Pretoria just to sit around the park. Even if we are no longer here the historical and heritage value of the Caledonian soccer field should be protected.”
The protest was organised by the Democratic Alliance.
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Read: 103 year old soccer club existence threatened
