The Chinese Association transforms Rivonia Central rooftop into multi-sport community hub
Basketball, netball, and volleyball lovers in Rivonia now have a new place to call home, after The Chinese Association transformed a rooftop parking area into multi-purpose courts that are open to everyone.
The Chinese Association (TCA) officially opened its new multi-purpose sports courts at Rivonia Central, transforming what was once an unused parking area into a community space for basketball, netball, and volleyball.
The rooftop venue came alive during the official launch on July 11, as players, families, and community members gathered to celebrate the new facility.
The opening event featured a three-on-three basketball tournament, a volleyball exhibition match, and a netball game, showcasing the versatility of the courts and the association’s vision of promoting sport for all.
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TCA chairperson Daniel Lee said the project was born out of the Chinese community’s passion for basketball and a desire to create a central venue where people could come together through sport. “The Chinese community loves basketball, so we’ve always wanted to have a central place where everybody can enjoy the sport.
“We chose this ground because we’re familiar with the owner of this building and this parking was always an open space. We thought that this is a good opportunity for us to make use of this space into courts.”
Although the initiative was driven by The Chinese Association, Lee stressed that the facility is open to everyone. “Whoever wants to play basketball, wants to host a tournament here, wants to have a party here, they’re welcome to use the courts.”
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The venue is already home to a growing youth basketball programme. Lee said every Friday evening, around 40 to 50 children, aged between five and 13, gather to train and compete in their own mini-league, while adults of all ages also make use of the courts. “We’ve got former basketball players who are now parents, and their children have grown up playing the game. We call them the minis, and they now have a small basketball community.
“They come here every Friday night to practise, and there’s no age limitation. Our youngest players are five years old, and our oldest are in their 40s and 50s.”
Lee hopes the new facility will continue to bring people together, encourage active lifestyles, and provide a welcoming sporting hub for residents from all backgrounds.
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