SEDIBENG.- The state of local sports facilities was a major talking point at the recent Farewell Dinner hosted by Emfuleni Local Municipality Executive Mayor Hassan Mako at the Mayor’s Parlour.

However, for those who have watched these venues crumble, the time for polite dinner conversation is long over.

These issues have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears.

For the past 10 years, Zakes’ Sports Corner has raised the alarm about the devastating lack of sporting facilities in our community, but these issues have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears.

While the crisis is not new, Zakes’ Sports Corner will say this without offending anyone: our community has severely neglected its historical sporting venues, particularly our football stadiums.

The loss of these historic grounds is a tragedy.

The Zone 11 Stadium is heading down the very same path.

The Zone 7 Stadium, formerly known as the Masenkeng Stadium, was neglected to the point of complete ruin and no longer exists. Today, the Zone 11 Stadium is heading down the very same path.

Even privately owned venues have suffered. The Kwa-Masiza Stadium was once one of the finest sporting facilities in Vaal, hosting top-flight football matches. It was a short walk for the Sebokeng community to watch the now-defunct Vaal Professional face legendary teams like Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, and Mamelodi Sundowns. Today, that magnificent venue is nothing more than a useless white elephant.

History is going to judge us harshly!

Similarly, George Thabe Stadium is ruined.

During the 2010 Fifa World Cup, this venue boasted a world-class pitch and was chosen as the official training ground for the Ivory Coast National Team.

Today, due to a total lack of maintenance, it lies entirely neglected.

This issue is deeply personal Mr Mayor. Zakes’ Sports Corner has been advocating for sports development in this region, including the sporting facilities.

Growing up in the football community on the dusty soccer grounds of Evaton, this sport saved my life and the lives of many other young people. Evaton Central was once a dangerous, crime-ridden area. Tragically, some of my own teammates and friends were killed during the Zone 7 Massacres, a night when Zakes’ Sports Corner could have been one of those that were killed on that night.

To the newly appointed mayor Hassan Mako: Zakes’ Sports Corner is ready to act as your eyes and ears on the ground. As the self-appointed Minister of Sports in Vaal, I urge you to understand that improving our township facilities requires a serious, urgent conversation. We cannot simply discuss the future of our youth over a dinner table while our history is allowed to rot. It needs a serious conversation, to say the least!