THE redevelopment of the dilapidated Umbilo Congella Sports Club should commence this year.
According to eThekwini Head of communications, Tozi Mthethwa, the reconceptualisation of the facility has been budgeted for and will start in the 2014/2015 financial year and continue in the 2015/2016 financial year.
“The redevelopment will deal with the buildings and the different playing areas within the facility,” she said.
The club has been featured in Berea Mail many times since its closure, with residents complaining firstly about its closure, and then about the condition of the buildings, which were left to fall to pieces and have been vandalised over the years.
Resident, Elaine Fileczki, said it was sad to see what had become of a once virbrant sports club, which offered football, cricket, hockey, bowls, tennis and a bit later softball.
“That all fell apart when the maintenance of the grounds became non-existent and the leases were not extended. The grounds were supposedly going to be taken over by King Edward Hospital for extensions, but this never happened and everything lies in ruin. The main hall was used for all sorts of events, fundraisers, parties, weddings and more, the bowling and tennis clubs were run by different sub-committees and the club even had a secretary who came in daily to handle the bookings. The sports bar in the main hall and the cricket longroom were, as you can imagine, well supported. If I remember correctly, the longroom was built with funds raised by the club members and has now been vandalised together with the other buildings,” she said.
Ward councillor, Nicole Graham, said: “I have been told the municipality has R1 million on the capital budget starting on 1 July to upgrade Congella Sports Club and Mandene Sports Club, whereafter it will enter into a memorandum of understanding with a relevant service provider or sporting body.”
