Southern Sports EduCentre celebrates one year
"We want to thank all our sponsors, clients, coaches, customers, and of course our staff for helping create a happy space for the community, particularly in these challenging times,” - Brad Harding.
A mere 12 months ago Brad Harding and Tracey Pretorius put their heads together to come up with an idea which will serve the greater good of the community.
Not only did they successfully establish a space for business purposes, but they have also created an environment where they can develop the youth.
The team, which consists of Brad Harding, Tracey Pretorius, Kathy Vermeulen and Cassidy Harding took over the responsibility of a disused and dilapidated bowling club situated on 1 Short Street, Oakdene and rehabilitated the facility.
“Already we have recruited more people. We believe there’s nothing more important than fostering growth and development in our local youth. “We have created several jobs from groundsman, security, bar staff, and waiters. Also to management, maintenance, coaches, and mentors. We have hired about 11 different musicians every month for entertainment,” said Harding.
Although this non-profit sports campus faces challenges with lockdown regulations in place, they still provide scholars and sports players a safe place to get physically active, while making connections with their peers.
“We have faced issues, such as delays in UIF payments and restrictions on sport, hospitality and conferencing. All in all, we have kept positive and kept our programme running, even with restrictions. “We have been upgrading our premises with ongoing maintenance of sports fields, feeding our staff, and their families during the lockdown. We have about 100 local children who participate and we host about 50 children from other areas that come to play here,” he said.
Harding said they are looking forward to welcoming children back for football league and other sports training.
“We are also able to introduce squash and boxing in the adjoining facilities at the Southern Sports and Recreation Club. “This has become a community hub for our supporters to spend their leisure time in a safe, hospitable and comfortable environment,” he said.
The project recently employed 27 people, most of whom have come from the immediate local community.
“We also introduce the students to life skills and have a mentorship programme in place at the Educentre. Our mentors, life, and sports coaches are to be drawn from the education, sports, and business sectors. “We want to thank all our sponsors, clients, coaches, customers, and, of course, our staff for helping create a happy space for the community, particularly in these challenging times,” concluded Harding.
