A local cricket coach questions why a new multi-million rand indoor sports centre is being built in Joza, while existing facilities are so run down they can’t be used.
A local cricket coach questions why a new multi-million rand indoor sports centre is being built in Joza, while existing facilities are so run down they can’t be used.
Willows cricket club coach Lucius Jordaan says the Oval sports ground cricket nets have been in a poor state for almost 20 years because of vandalism and neglect.
“We have not received anything from the municipality and last year they removed the cricket pitch without consulting the cricket community in the coloured area,” Jordaan said.
He has lived there for most of his life, he says, and even played U11 cricket at these very grounds in the 1990s.
Recent renovations to the Oval (also known as “Lavender Valley” after the area it’s in) have made it a great place to play rugby, but not cricket, Jordaan says.
The Willows have had to play their matches at Kingswood College for the past two years because they have nowhere else to go.
“Children don’t play cricket anymore, and if they do, they play against weaker teams from Kingswood which don’t have any fixtures,” he said.
“Sport is going to die in our community because of it.”
Swallows Rugby Club general secretary Philip Oerson also expressed concern about the state and lack of sports playing fields in the community.
“Lavender Valley is in a bad state,” said Oerson, “the facilities and toilets are vandalised, although the sewerage connection is still there."
We need a new surface on the field because it is full of holes and last year a player got injured because of it.”
Similarly Chris Totobela, coach of Grahamstown’s women’s soccer team African Connection, complained about the lack of sport fields in Joza.
“The current soccer association is using the Fiddler’s Green field to play, but this is too far from the township. You can’t expect an 11-year-old boy to walk there from Joza,” he said.
Responding to some of these grievances, head of the Makana Municipality Sport Council Jeff Budaza explained what the municipality is currently doing to make more facilities available.
He mentioned that renovations to JD Dlepu soccer stadium in Joza have recently been completed and a security guard has been posted there.
Folley’s Ground in Fingo Village will open in August or September, Budaza said, but unfortunately cricketers in the community aren’t going to get better facilities in the near future.
Because there are only five cricket teams in Grahamstown, there’s no need for more pitches or nets beyond what is currently available.
“There are five pitches for five teams: two at Rhodes, two at the Albany Sports Club, and one in Joza in Extension 5. The cricket nets at the Oval fall under last year’s budget so they are staying that way until the next financial year,” Budaza said.
