Decades-long battle comes to an end to revamp Tshwane heritage site

A sod-turning ceremony on Thursday marked the start of an R120-million revamp of the Caledonian Stadium, ending more than a decade’s battle to revive the stadium.

The ceremony was hosted by Tshwane mayor Randall Williams and attended by the likes of soccer greats such as Mark Fish and Deshi Bhaktawer who played at the stadium in its heyday.

Construction will take three years at the 112-year-old home for Arcadia Shepherds FC.

The stadium was sold to Tshwane in 1916 on the condition that it be run as a sports facility, mainly for football.

“It’s been a long struggle for Arcadia Shepherds over the past 20 years,” said Arcadia Shepherds FC club manager Luck Manna.

He said in 2001 the club entered into an agreement with the then-Tshwane council.

“We were promised a long-term lease agreement contract; however, raising objections led to a long wait for an agreement to be signed.”

Manna said for years the soccer fraternity in the CBD, had no access to lights, water, bathrooms, canteen or security and maintenance.

“The stadium faced vandalism and neglect at a huge financial cost to the club.”

He said the club, however, never gave up on their dreams.

“This construction will ensure that the partnership between the club facility and the Tshwane metro will remain intact.”

He said their long-term agreement was expected to be signed in the next few weeks.

Mayor Williams said the decision to upgrade the stadium came with many challenges.

“In 2014, a poor decision was taken by the then-administration to demolish the stadium to turn it into an inner-city park.

“This decision also saw the eviction of the Arcadia Shepherds from their historic home of more than 100 years.”

He said this would have destroyed the dreams of hundreds of future soccer players in the metro.

“The stadium is a heritage site for the city and is an integral part for the sport history of Tshwane.”

The stadium had produced many well-known professional soccer players.

These included Thomas Hlongwane, Noel Cousins, Stan Lapot, Bongane Khumalo, Deshi Bhaktawer, Mark Fish, Thomas Madigage, Edward Motale, Mark Evans, Mark Anderson and Portia Modise.

Modise is one of the greatest female players of all time in South Africa who captained Banyana Banyana and scored her first goal for the country on the stadium grounds.

He said the metro was hoping that PSL teams would be able to use the stadium after construction.

The upgrades are expected to bring the existing stadium up to PSL standards.

It will have a new soccer museum and multipurpose hall, a sports retail shop, a new sports bar that can be leased to generate income, a new five-a-side soccer facility and a new skate park for inner city skating.

WATCH: 

“It is important for us to invest in our sporting facilities.”

Community and social development services MMC Thabisile Vilakazi said she was delighted that the construction will kick off now.

“This journey has not been easy. It was filled with sharp turns such as being under administration and battling Covid-19.”

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram