First-rate sports facility for Durban
A MULTIMILLION-RAND international training centre and football academy is expected to open its doors in 2018 if plans for the project run smoothly.
Work on the R300 million project would start by the end of this year, said city manager S’bu Sithole at a media briefing at Moses Mabhida Stadium this week.
The academy, which has yet to be named, will be situated where the Stables and New Market Stables are now.
The centre will include seven sports fields for soccer and hockey, a sports hotel, accommodation and conference facilities, student and multimedia areas, as well as lecture halls.
There will also be a highperformance centre that will cater for hydrotherapy, psychology, sports medicine and medical testing. The centre will also provide sportsmen and women with adequate nutrition and guidance on training.
Sithole said the academy would be in keeping with the city’s vision to create an allinclusive sports hub.
“We identified the Kings Park precinct as an ideal location for the construction of the academy. It will be the first of its kind in the province. We believe that Durban is in need of a facility that nurtures and uplifts talent in our province.
“Not only will it enhance sports development in the country, but we are hoping it will make Durban a world- class sports destination.”
The director of Hoy Park Management, Carlos Catalino, said the initiative was an SA Football Associationdriven project.
He said the facility would be a pilot project for South Africa’s eight other provinces.
Catalino said the best players from the 11 regions in the province would be selected by talent scouts. These scouts would attend school games, league competitions and tournaments.
After the scouting process was over, 88 players would be chosen to receive the skills that would increase their chances of getting into football clubs across the country.
He said: “The centre will definitely be a boost for tourism in the city because of the world-class facilities it will have. The academy will allow talented sportsmen to realise their potential.”
Catalino said the centre would also create employment. He said all the fruit and vegetables served at the academy would be bought from local farmers.
University students would be able to serve their apprenticeships at the centre.
Specialists from KwaZuluNatal in the fields of sports psychology, nutrition, biokinetics, physical training and physiotherapy would be hired to work at the facility.
“The centre will not only benefit sport, but also help provide jobs for many Durbanites. Our intention is to create jobs while attracting the world to our lovely city,” Catalino said.
The centre would also host international and local soccer clubs, and cater for training for other sports codes.
Some foreign players who required medical assistance could also visit the centre.
“This new facility will also attract international sports teams to our shores.
“There are many foreign teams who are eager to train in Durban because of the climate here,” he said.
“The city normally pays millions to bring global teams to our shores, but with this facility they will cut costs and benefit from it.”