Former Premier League soccer coach Cavin Johnson held a successful public meeting on Saturday, July 4, which was well-attended by community members, organisations, soccer teams and the Unified Public School management team.

According to Johnson, the meeting was solely to present a vision for the upcoming Cecil Payne Stadium project and mainly to hear the community’s concerns while also exchanging ideas about the stadium.

The meeting follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Johnson and the City of Johannesburg, which has officially handed over the management and operation of Cecil Payne Stadium to him.

• Also read: Big changes on cards for Cecil Payne Stadium

Currently, the stadium has fallen into severe disrepair and has been declared unfit for use because of extensive structural damage. The perimeter fence has been breached in several areas, while vagrants have taken up shelter on and beneath the ageing pavilions. A small informal settlement has also begun to develop along the wetland bordering the facility.

Johnson’s vision is to restore the stadium to its former glory and once again make it a safe, functional space for the community.

 “The meeting was purely to inform the communities of Maraisburg and Florida about what is going to happen with the stadium. We want their support and want them to tell us whether they are willing and prepared to help us,” he said.

The proposed project was met with overwhelming support, with community members and local football clubs sharing ideas and offering assistance. Many of the clubs said they regularly use the stadium and have been directly affected by its deteriorating condition. Unified Public School management also welcomed the vision, saying it will largely benefit the school community.

“One of the biggest issues raised is that if this matter is not addressed urgently, the stadium will continue to deteriorate. We need to ensure that we remove the vagrants and manage the facility properly,” Johnson added.

Employment opportunities were also discussed during the meeting. Residents asked whether local people would benefit from the redevelopment project. Johnson confirmed that employment opportunities would be communicated as they become available, including positions linked to the operation of two kitchens planned for the facility.

Johnson acknowledged that restoring the stadium is a major undertaking and said the project is expected to take several years to complete.

“Things will happen slowly, but we’re going to do the best we can to bring the stadium back to life,” he said.