The City of Cape Town has unveiled new synthetic football pitches at the new Hout Bay Sports Grounds and Hangberg Sports Complex, as part of efforts to provide sporting facilities to previously disadvantaged areas.
The City spent more than R10 million on the pitches, which meet FIFA regulations for training facilities, and will be used by all of the 24 clubs affiliated to the South African Football Association (SAFA) in Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu. Local community social clubs will also be able to use the fields through a booking system.
Executive Mayor, Alderman Patricia de Lille and the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Tandeka Gqada, unveiled the pitches on Wednesday, 7 November 2012.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Mayor said the City was determined to overcome the inequalities created by the legacy of apartheid, and provide more than just basic services to communities.
“It also means providing sports facilities to create opportunities for those who want to pursue a career in sport to do so in world-class facilities.”
She said the City contributed R3.2 million for the construction of the field in Hangberg, while the synthetic mat for the pitch was donated by a Dutch company, Desso Sports Systems. The Hangberg facility has been equipped with floodlights to allow for training sessions and matches at night.
Meanwhile, the synthetic pitch in Imizamo Yethu has cost R8.7 million. In the second phase of this project, floodlights will be added, a clubhouse and recreation centre will be constructed, and permanent ablution facilities will be provided.
There are now 15 synthetic pitches in Cape Town: nine five-a-side pitches and six full-size fields, while another five synthetic pitches are scheduled for completion throughout the metro during the 2012/13 municipal financial year.
The Executive Mayor said Cape Town had made a significant contribution to the sport in South Africa, with Ajax Cape Town and Chippa United in the Premier Soccer League, and four football teams from the city playing in the National First Division.
“By building these pitches in these areas, the City is creating a conducive environment for emerging young footballers to hone their skills in world-class facilities. These fields could produce the next generations of football legends in our city.
“In a city like ours that is grappling with the devastating effects of substance abuse, the football field is often the safest place for many youngsters to avoid the lure of drugs. I would like to make a special appeal to the people of Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu to take care of these facilities to ensure that the young people of our city have world-class facilities to develop their talents,” she said.
