SEDIBENG.- If we didn’t allow criminal activities in our sports, Zakes’ Sports Corner believes that we could still have sporting facilities like Kwa-Masiza Stadium in our community.
This was the best sporting facilities we had in this region. Ironically, this venue became a white elephant and was vandalised and damaged. Kwa-Masiza Stadium used to host high-profile football events such as PSL, the Four Nations Tournament, and even athletics events.
The venue was close and accessible to the community.
It was just walking distance for the Sebokeng community to watch football, with the now defunct Vaal Professionals hosting the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns. But how did we end up here as a region to lose such a beautiful facility in our lifetime?
It is because we allow criminal activities in our sports, especially in our communities. How can we allow such facilities to be destroyed considering the magnitude of the venue?
Sadly, the venue has become a popular site for spinning cars heaven. The question is who is to be blamed for this. Zakes’ Sports Corner knows that the venue was a privately owned property of Iscor. Zakes’ Sports Corner still wants to see a venue like that in this region, especially in the community.
MATTER OF FACT, if the venue was still in existence, I think the DSTV Diski Challenge (DDC) matches could have been played there.
The Sebokeng and Evaton community, especially soccer fans, wouldn’t travel to Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark to watch those DDC matches. We ended up here because we allowed criminal activities to be in our sports. Not only, Kwa-Masiza Stadium was a victim of criminal acts, but the Zone 7 Stadium – formerly Masenkeng Stadium – was also a victim of the same criminal activities.
The same community that was supposed to take care of the venue, vandalised it. They stripped it “naked.”
Just like Kwa-Masiza Stadium, this venue has a rich history of hosting high-profile football matches and school athletics events. Sadly, we can only talk about this venue in the past! Zakes’ Sports Corner grew up in Evaton and was lucky to witness some of the best memories at this special venue.
Gone are the days when the local soccer fans would gather there to watch soccer matches on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. As a community, our silence is too loud – we are to be blamed for the situation we find ourselves in right now.
We no longer have decent facilities in our communities like in the past.
