Marks Park manager tells of her love for all things sports

Since she was a little girl surrounded by her three older brothers, Vossie le Roux has loved sports.

It is this love and participation in sports, among many other attributes, that must have further aided in her acquiring the role of manager at Joburg Property Company-owned, Marks Park Sports Club. For the past four years, she has filled this significant role with great pleasure.

Seeing as many know little of this woman who is passionate about sports and community, the paper headed on over to the Emmarentia-based sports complex to find out more about the woman who is not only a force behind the desk, but a player to be reckoned with on the fields.

Growing up, Le Roux took part in athletics and cross-country while also playing netball. Once she got her matric, she joined the army where she would meet the army’s physical training instructor, and later marry him. “We started running together, all the while I was still taking part in various sports I had always played.” She also did her officer’s course in Heidelberg and there, she was the only woman among 130 men. “It was quite tough, being the only lady – I had to do whatever the men did. If they ran 16km in their full kit, so did I – there was no room for me to be treated differently.”

Though she would later become a housewife for some years, looking after her son and two daughters, she spent no time away from sports, with her and her husband effortlessly fostering a love of sports in their children.

Not even being in her late 50s would take Le Roux off the various fields, courts, and pitches she makes her way to weekly. She still makes sure to fill her days with activities that range from action netball, running and rugby. She is currently the vice president of the Rugby Golden Oldies Lions and is the first woman to get this position. She is also the only female player in the Golden Eagles Rugby Marks Park.

It seems life would always lead her to captain in environments that are male dominated, conditions she has never met with intimidation.

When it comes to the sports club, she has always surprised people who have lived in the community for years, still knowing very little about it – citing that some do not know of the assortment of sports available or that there are venue rooms available to hire for events by the public.

There are about 18 different sports found there, ranging from kettlebells, wrestling, tennis, LSM cricket, cricket, rugby, croquet, archery, baseball, and more. They will also soon make way for ‘new kid on the block,’ paddle tennis.

Sports are important to her because not only does she love them, she also sees a huge health benefit to taking part in them, “People involved in sports tend to live a healthier life and through it, you get to meet so many interesting people and build a community,” she said.

Walking into her office every day, which just so happens to be a 122-year-old heritage site, reminds her of our country’s history. “Entering this building and looking up at the high ceilings and walking on these wooden floors, I realise I am part of a history that will never disappear.”
She took into account how, back in 1901, a family lived there and called this former farmhouse, now sports complex, home. The farmhouse still has most of its original features with more modern additions made around it.

The sports complex has hosted various large events too, such as the Spar Women’s Challenge, MTN 702 Walk the Talk, as well as Avon iThemba Walkathon.

Le Roux’s ultimate hopes are that the sports complex continues to grow in leaps and bounds.