Club claims stadium ban
Athletes lack a venue of their own, jeopardising major races
The Real Gijimas Athletics Club have come out expressing their frustration about being denied access to the Sisa Dukashe Stadium for their races.
Real Gijimas chairman Alex Kambule contacted the Daily Dispatch after he read about the struggle faced by ABC Motsepe League champions Tornado when it comes to securing the NU2 venue for their home games.
He said the last time they were allowed to use Sisa Dukashe was in January last year when they hosted the 2017 Real Gijimas Bridle Drift 21.1km and 5km Fun Run, and it’s been more than a year since they’ve hosted big races at the venue.
They have now been forced to find alternative starting and finish points.
“We starting hosting an 18km race in 2007 at Sisa Dukashe Stadium, our start and finish. The problem started in 2016 and in 2017 we were refused to even use the stadium,” said Kambule.
He said their problems began in 2016 when the stadium’s management told them the stadium was closed for winter maintenance in August.
“We would follow proper channels and pay the booking fees, and in 2017 we started a new 21km race in January.
“We’re expecting athletes from around the country so we really needed the stadium but our efforts were in vain. We tried to engage stadium management during December.
“We were even writing letters to the mayor [Xola Pakati], and we’d even send people who know him from the club’s side to approach him.
“Then we received the goahead at the 11th hour to use the stadium.”
Kambule said they were not looking to utilise the field of play, but the surroundings of the pitch and facilities including toilets.
“We told them we just want a secure area where we can finish the race which is behind the change rooms.”
He said when Chippa United started playing their league games at the NU2 venue it became apparent that they were no longer welcome at the venue.
“In August 2017 we ended up going to Masizakhe as an alternative.”
Kambule said he also attended the Mayoral Imbizo Road Show at NU 6 where the deputy mayor Zoliswa Matana interacted with the community.
“That’s when I tried to engage deputy mayor Matana, and she referred me to Mr Tapile. But still I didn’t get anything of substance from the Facilities Department.
“This year we started a 50km race from Zwelitsha to Mdantsane. It’s got potential to be the biggest race hosted by a township club, attracting runners coming from as far as Gauteng.
“We had runners from other provinces in the 50km race and they were asking us all sorts of questions like how can we host a big race like that one and not have a proper venue.”
Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenywa advised the running club and other municipal stakeholders who want to utilise Sisa Dukashe to meet with stadium management and discuss the matter.
“The stadium was getting renovated for a while for PSL games and no one was allowed to book it.
“People can’t say we have not been giving them the stadium for no reason, because there’s a political party that hosted a rally there recently.
“So this issue can’t be proven and I know that Tornado wanted the stadium while it was under maintenance.”
He added: “Otherwise we understand their concerns because there’s a need for the use of the facility, but as far as we are concerned there’s no exclusivity around Sisa Dukashe.
“If there is, then no one would have got access to the stadium.”
The stadium was getting renovated for a while for PSL games and no one was allowed to book it