MEC Officiate at Sod Turning for KZN Sport Academy in Durban
Construction work is set to begin soon on the one of a kind KZN Sports Development Training Centre and Football Academy after more than 5 years of delays owing to dispute over the allocated site on the Kings Park Sport Precinct in Durban.
The realisation of the multi-million-rand development has come closer with the staging of the official sod turning event on site on Thursday, 12 November, attended by the MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Hlengiwe Mavimbela.
The Academy is a partnership between the SA Football Association (SAFA), Provincial Government represented by the Department of Sport and Recreation, eThekwini Municipality and the Hoy Park Management Company. The initiative experienced long drawn out delays due to court processes which have now been resolved.
Addressing the sod turning event, MEC Mavimbela said the project fits in with the Department’s drive to provide sport academies in different parts of the Province.
“The development of an Academy System by the Department was founded on a research which showed that there is no integrated high-performance system in place in KwaZulu-Natal. It is with this in mind that the Department has developed the KwaZulu-Natal High-Performance Strategy which looks at the entire value chain of High-Performance; and implement sustainable yet affordable interventions in improving the performance of athletes, coaches and teams in the Province,” she said.
“The strategy points to the establishment of Regional and District Academies throughout KZN, including the KwaMsane District Academy in Mtubatuba, which forms part of the KwaMsane Sports Complex which was completed in the 2019/2020 Financial Year. District Academies such as KwaMsane will form part of the pipeline where talent from rural areas will be developed and optimized.”
Other Academies that are supported by the Department includes the Canoeing Development Academy at the Shongweni Dam, Midlands District Academy in Umgungundlovu, KZN Cricket Academy based at the KZN Cricket Union, the Sharks Academy based at Kings Park and the Football 4 Life Academy targeting female footballers in Mtubatuba.
“The Department is currently investing in the construction of three District Fitness Complexes in Uthukela, Harry Gwala and King Cetshwayo Districts. These multi-year projects will include a fully equipped academy with adjoining sports fields and other amenities. Funding for this purpose has been transferred to respective local municipalities.”
MEC Mavimbela said they are happy that the challenges that have delayed the construction of the Durban base academy have been resolved.
“This sod turning ceremony marks a major milestone in the development of this project which has been outstanding for some time; and we are happy that finally we can see progress in its implementation,” she remarked.
She said the key objectives of this project was to create a world class International High-Performance Centre with the primary focus on developing a Football Academy that will produce talented players within the under 13-19 age-group.
Among other things, the Centre will allow identified talent to gain the necessary fundamental, tactical and technical skills. These also incorporate education, ethics and life skills. Athletes from all sporting codes will have access to state-of-the-art training and rehabilitation facilities. The development of coaches, technical officials and administrators will also receive priority.
The Department had committed to invest R30 million over three years towards the project. The first tranche of R10m was transferred to eThekwini Municipality and the remaining R20m had to be reprioritised due the delays.
The MEC said with the project now back on track, the Department would seek funds from cabinet to support the programme.