R30m sports centre plan for Durban

Durban is home to many sports and sports enthusiasts, but not everyone has had the opportunity to participate, get training or use the facilities - this is about to change.

eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba has said Durban should become a sporting destination and eThekwini council, along with the Durban Sports Ground Association, ML Sultan Technikon, Technikon Natal and the private sector, are in the process of transforming Curries Fountain into the Curries Fountain Sports Development Centre (CFSDC).

"This is a multifaceted project and is the only one of its kind in South Africa," said CFSDC Chairman Ben Khoapa.

Costing R30-million, the centre seeks to create a sporting academy of excellence open to everyone.

"We wish to ensure that women, young people, the elderly, the differently-abled, the homeless, the unemployed, people living in informal settlements and others deprived of sporting and recreational facilities are given the opportunity to participate," he added.

"We want a development centre that will cater for indoor and outdoor sports for all and sundry," said Durban Sports Ground Association Chairman Vic Pillay.

"The regeneration of Curries Fountain will not only revive the heyday of sporting and cultural activities, but also serve a sound academic purpose," said ML Sultan Vice-Chancellor Daniel J Ncayiyana.

The centre will cater for "several sporting codes" including tennis, aerobics, netball, golf, cricket, soccer, rugby, squash, athletics, volleyball, gymnastics and weightlifting. There will be a seating for more than 5 000 spectators, accommodation for 150 people involved in attending sponsored clinics or coaching courses, a sports library and sports medicine centre. There is no membership fee envisaged, but if one is needed it "will be nominal".

A section 21 company has been set up to administer the centre and the aim is to commercialise the parts facing the street to generate income. The commercial area will include cafeterias and retail stores.

ML Sultan has already paid for the R2-million first phase which involved the refurbishment of the grandstand and renovation of changerooms and ablution facilities. But funds are seriously lacking. "We are talking to the unicity, other tiers of government, corporations, local and international foundations," said Khoapa. "But we do not have other major money, just the operational viable courtesy of the two technikons, with ML Sultan providing more than Technikon Natal," he added.

"We have retained a fundraiser in the United Kingdom and have issued an interim mandate to a facilitation consortium with strong American linkages to pursue foreign funding," said Khoapa. "This project is not about bricks and mortar only - while that is important, our programmes are ready to run.

"The completion of the structure itself is dependent on funding and the directors are hoping to complete the building within the next three years. There is already tremendous interest and we hope to be able to mobilise the necessary funding," said Ncayiyana.