Help save Old Bens
When the Lockdown came into affect, sport as a whole was thrown into a pit of unsurety. The Benoni City Times had a quick catch up with one of the well-known sports clubs in Benoni, the Old Benonians Sports Club (Old Bens), to see how the club is holding up during this lockdown.
The popular Old Benonians Sports Club (Old Bens) has made a plea for financial help.
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Club secretary Didri Brits explained that due to the Covid-19 lockdown they are desperately in need of funds to keep the club going with regard to field maintenance and paying overheads such as ground staff, water and electricity.
“Like most clubs, we started the year collecting registration and subs fees before the leagues started, and these fees are usually what go towards the upkeep of the club, but once lockdown came into affect we had only received about 25 per cent of registrations.”Also, due to no leagues being able to start, how could we blame those who had not paid yet? “Nobody is sure about when they are going to play again,” she said.
The club kicked 2020 off with excitement and plenty of new faces as the United Cricket Club recently merged with them and were working on the maintenance and re-construction of their new field. They had chosen to leave their other field for safety reasons, and Old Bens were more than happy to be chosen as their new home.
“They are also changing their name to Old Benonians Cricket Club,” said Warren Brits, head of coaching.
However, lockdown hit right in the middle of the merge and United Cricket Club had to leave their field and the gates to Old Bens were closed. “Our juniors did not even get to start their league and our u-17 and u-19 soccer boys are begging to come back,” Didri said.
“Every time the president gives a speech they call or message us, asking if the can come back.”We really wish we could say yes. We miss being back too.
“The Castle League (Benoni Stars) were in the middle of their league when lockdown was implemented. According to Warren, they didn’t start off too well but were picking up as the league progressed.”They were proud of what they were achieving and how they were growing and getting better, and then lockdown happened and they went from practising three times a week at two hours a day, to nothing.”We are just waiting to hear from Safa (South African Football Association) and ELFA (Easterns Local Football Association).”We need the protocols and guidelines from them as well as the date of re-opening, and we have no idea when this will be.”
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Didri said while it hasn’t been business as usual, they are doing everything they can to maintain their facilities.”Our income is nowhere near its usual level and, unfortunately, costs haven’t decreased proportionately. “We’re appealing to anyone who is able to contribute towards keeping our club going, to do so by means of an EFT into the club’s bank account.”Any amount will be greatly appreciated, no donation is too small and every cent helps,” concluded Didri.For more information about how to help Old Bens and for their banking details, email registrar.obfc@gmail.comThe Old Bens’ Annual General Meeting has been postponed to July 4 and all Covid-19 protocols will be adhered to.
