The sadness, emotion and frustration was evident when the City Times spoke to club chairman Hansie Naude last week.
In fact, the City Times, reported on the same issue in July, a decade ago.
The Northmead resident has been involved in the sport of wrestling in Benoni for 51 years and has served as chairman of the club for 17 years.
He and the club have played a huge role in the development of previously disadvantaged wrestlers and yet, they still cannot secure the desired support and backing from the local authority.
He believes that indoor mat sports are dying in Benoni, particularly wrestling.
“Benoni doesn’t care about mat sports,” said Naude.
Throughout his time he has yearned for an indoor mat sports centre in the area, much like the council-owned centres in Boksburg, Alberton, Kempton Park, Primrose and Brakpan.
After making do, in the past, with space in school halls, storage rooms at the Northmead Mall, the Kids Haven hall and their current temporary agreement with the AGS Charisma Church in Cypress Street, the club is staring down the barrel of extinction if they cannot find a suitable permanent home.
The club is no Mickey Mouse operation either and has, over the years, produced a number of provincial and national wrestlers, such as Philip Lemmer, 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mpho Madi and Bokang Matsunyane, who has since moved on to competitive mixed martial arts (MMA).
Madi and Matsunyane are just two of the numerous development wrestlers who have earned their stripes at the club from a young age.
“As we know,through sport a nation comes together,” Naude said.
“Sport also takes children off the street and makes them feel that there are possibilities in life to secure a future and to see the world.
“Everybody is concerned about the sports that are played on open fields, but, for indoor sports there is no concern.
“If Benoni could provide an indoor sport centre for children in need they could take part in this sport for free.
“But, at the moment, only private organisations have their own facilities and that is very costly.”
The club’s dreams nearly became a reality when the council gave them land for the construction of a new hall in Northmead, some time ago, but the building was halted and demolished a few years into the project, due to legal issues between the club and the council.
Asked if the club had tried the John Barrable Hall, Naude said: “John Barrable Hall is a mess.
“They don’t allow us there.
“All they cater to is badminton and tumbling and there isn’t any facility for storage of our mats.”
Storage of the mats seems to be the critical issue, as constant transportation and movement of the equipment can damage the expensive mats.
“The sponges don’t last if you continue to handle them,” Naude explained.
He has made a passionate plea to anybody in the community who can put their hand up and assist the club with a venue.
If you would like to assist Naude contact him on 083 709 8941, or email to hansienaude@telkomsa.net.
Sports journalist Logan Green spoke to metro spokesman Themba Gadebe regarding the lack of an indoor mat sport facility in Benoni:
LG: What is the status quo with regard to indoor sports facilities in the metro, and in Benoni in particular?
TG: The metro has indoor sports facilities in Brakpan, Springs and Nigel, however, Benoni does not have one in the central business district. The one available is in the Benoni residential area, the John Barrable Indoor Centre, at the corner of O’Reilly Merry and Brodigan streets.
LG: Why does the metro not provide a free indoor facility for mat sports in Benoni?
TG: Municipal facilities are on a pay-to-use basis, so that they can be sustainable. This is intended to ensure that the facilities are maintained.
LG: How much does it cost to rent out a hall for mat sports?
TG: There are tariffs and by-laws in place for sports and recreation facilities. For booking fees, enquiries can be made at the nearby customer care centre when a community member or sports club or federations need to utilise them. They vary in categories.
LG: Will the metro take cognisance of this gentleman’s concerns and are there any future plans to provide free indoor sports facilities in the Benoni area?
TG: There is an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process that guides the municipality as to the needs and wants of the residents in their collective, not on one member of the community. In the past the EMM established facilities that are currently not optimally utilised, which might have come out of the demand of one person.
LG: Any further comments?
TG: The concerned citizen of Benoni should involve himself in the IDP consultation process meetings, to list this need. Benoni City Hall is a recreational facility which could still be booked for mat sport on suitability.
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