HOËRSKOOL Marais Viljoen’s dream has been realised while other schools still dream of the prospect of a fully-fledged sports facility.
The school’s shiny new high-performance centre was revealed to staff, guests and pupils of the school on August 22 and opens a new chapter in its already illustrious sports heritage.
It boasts seven tennis courts, an indoor cricket coaching and training facility, outdoor nets, an indoor golf coaching and training facility, a pro shop and even a gymnasium.
School principal Martie Heystek was upbeat about the new addition to the school.
She expressed relief that the school no longer needed to send its young sport enthusiasts to facilities across Alberton and praised Darryl Fourie and Sampie Pienaar for their uncompromising belief in a dream.
“This centre is a dream come true for us and its completion comes at the most opportune time,” Heystek told RECORD.
“Our young sportsmen and sportswomen can now start their conditioning ahead of the coming year. I am sure we will soon reap the benefits of this high-performance centre.”
The main sponsor of the new facility, Sampie Pienaar, said in his speech that sport has increasingly become more of a science than just a pastime and wished everyone involved in running the facility the best of success.
“I am honoured to have been able to play a role in achieving this milestone,” he said.
“I’ve been working in Alberton for the majority of my life. My passion and involvement in schools and sport is no secret either but this project has brought facilities of an unprecedented scale to Alberton. And I am most proud.”
Pienaar became involved in the project after having seen but a few sketches by his son-in-law, a past pupil and tennis coach at the school.
“I finally met a man who has the same passion for sports and fitness as I do,” Fourie told guests.
“We approached the school and said, ‘You’ve got land – we’ve got an idea’. The rest is history, as they say. And here we are, standing in this dream facility.”
In addition to top-class facilities, the school has also sourced top sports specialists who will start their sterling work at the beginning of next year, Fourie added.
