Darts club doubling on accuracy with triple the atmosphere
Johannesburg Darts Association secretary, Lucas Coetzer, open for enquiries on 078 181 1863
The precise calculation of speed and flight divides those that come within a bristle’s width of glory or mediocrity.
Like a secret club hidden in a back room down a quiet alley, Johannesburg Darts Association (JDA) meet to thread the eye of a needle from just over two metres away. There is, of course, nothing cloak-and-dagger about the gathering as they welcome everyone with open arms to their friendly and well-lit hub of darts action.
The club boasts the prestigious honour of being the oldest darts association in the area, calling Roodepoort home since 1948. District borders are strictly adhered to, yet geography is not as important as the personalities that make JDA a big draw. “It is the people who make this club what it is. It feels like a little family,” said JDA president, Gert van Niekerk.
Selection for the Darts South Africa (DSA) National Championships in Bloemfontein later this year are under way but in order to qualify, the district and provincial gauntlet needs to be run first. Waving the JDA flag high are two female miniature missile throwers, Xonica van Tonder and Annatjie von Brandis. The pair have been selected for the district team through their top six finishes in the 24 and 25 April district qualifiers.
Currently JDA’s numbers sit at 23, with 19 male players and four females playing league fixtures every Monday night at their home, Burg’s Sports Bar. Widely considered a pub sport, the club still has a mandate with DSA to promote the sport among the youth. Parents can rest assured that the darts section is separate from the bar, and strict non-smoking rules are applied around the dartboard.
“People may have a certain perception but we have a constitution that is strongly followed. We have a development officer that is here to teach the game, so we encourage anyone to come down and have a look at the venue,” said JDA secretary, Lucas Coetzer. If one considers oneself worthy of that ultimate ‘One Hundred and Eighty’ cry, double your efforts for triple the reward.
