Mayor encourages youth to partake in sports

The mayor of the Kopanong Local Municipality, Xolile Matwa, has encouraged young people to take sports and recreation seriously in order to secure brighter futures.

Matwa said the municipality took an initiative to revamp an old stadium and transform it into a modern one, for the youth of Edenburg to participate in the various sporting codes. He added that the municipality wants to see the youth in the area participating in sports and recreation and staying away from alcohol and drug abuse.

The mayor said the municipality needs to produce future sport stars to keep young people off the streets and away from criminal activities.

“Not all kids can go to the university but I want them to know that they can also have a bright future by being involved in sports as the sport will take them off the street and also teach them discipline in the process.”

The unit manager of Edenburg, Tankiso Koapele, said the stadium will be used for outdoor sports, concerts, or other recreation events. He said the stadium was dilapidated for more than 10 years now before it could be renovated.

Koapele said the renovation of the stadium started few weeks ago and local residents have been employed to fix the slabs that had fallen from the asbestos fence.

“The stadium was built in the 80’s but it was vandalised by local residents because it was underutilised. The local football clubs used to visit the stadium and clean it, at the end they got tired of tidying the stadium when other people mucky it.”

He said the municipality lost thousands of rands renovating the stadium over the years due to consistent vandalism but it has now improved security.

“The Mayor conducted a public meeting before renovating the stadium in which he addressed and taught the people about the importance of a stadium, he also told the people about the extra precaution that will be taken to keep the stadium safe at all time.

“The Edenburg youth are happy about the initiative that was made by the mayor and they have promised to look after the stadium. The local football clubs have welcomed the council’s gesture and they are excited that they will now train in the pitch supplied by SAFA,” added Koapele.

He said the municipality together with SAFA have committed themselves to improving soccer in the town.

One local football star who plays for the Super Vultures in the Metropolitan league, Tshepo Phakoje, said he is happy that the municipality renovated the stadium. He said they used to play football in the grovel ground but now they have a perfect soccer pitch.

“The other players had even given up on football because it was finishing their soccer boots but now I hope that they will come back so we can excel in football again.”