Residents bothered by unmaintained Oddi Stadium
Mabopane residents believe that the abandoned Odi Stadium can better be used to develop talent in the community.
David Matsena
Residents of Mabopane have expressed their concerns about the dilapidated Odi stadium in Mabopane.
They told Record this week, the 60 000-seater facility 30km north of Pretoria, was now a haven for criminals and nyaope users.
The stadium was built by then Bophuthatswana government to help develop sports in the former homeland.
Lesiba Moatshe, who lives a stone’s throw away from Morula View in Mabopane, said he was touched to see a venue that hosted big events back in the 1980s becoming a nest for criminals and nyaope users.
“Back in the late eighties and early nineties, the stadium hosted soccer games involving big teams such as Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits University, as well as ANC and ZCC gatherings but what is happening there now is just a shame,” he said.
He said a lack of maintenance and vandalism had left the stadium in a bad state, the grandstands were falling apart.
Tshwane municipality spokesperson, Blessing Manale had not responded to the media query at the time of going to press about the plans the metro had for the stadium but was recently quoted as saying the “Odi stadium is not safe, it is not structurally secured, and that is why we have actually decommissioned it for any sport or mass gathering until we find an alternative on what we are doing with it.”
“There is a number of football teams in the community. Why can’t the metro give the stadium to them,” questioned Moatshe.
“The facility could keep our children away from nyaope.”
Another resident, Abel Mashego believes the dilapidated and abandoned venue should be restored and used to develop potential soccer stars.
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