Jewel of Amanzimtoti celebrates 10 years

Amanzimtoti Sports Centre (ASC) celebrates 10-years of existence since it was formed to co-ordinate the various sports clubs situated at Hutchison Park. “Things were falling apart. We needed an umbrella body for the 10 sporting codes to try and co-ordinate everyone,” said chairman Craig Chamier. “We had a lot of passionate people and there were little pockets of different groups doing good, but they were fragmented.”

In September 2009 the first ASC committee with Manna Hoogenboezem as chairman and Craig as treasurer was elected. The various sports club affiliated to it included: Amanzimtoti Rugby Club, Amanzimtoti Cricket Club, Toti United Football Club, Amanzimtoti Athletics Club, Amanzimtoti Cycling Club, Amanzimtoti Bowling Club, Amanzimtoti Tennis Club, Amanzimtoti Squash Club, Cardinals Baseball Club and Twini Dog Club.

Amanzimtoti Conservancy was born during a meeting in the conference centre and still has its base there. Conservation is close to the ASC’s mandate and with help from Barry Walker of the cycling club, WESSA Kingsburgh and Hylton Laue of Ramblers hiking club, planted 40 new indigenous trees on Arbour Day.

No other town in KZN or possibly even the country can boast such magnificent facilities as those that can be found at ASC. And none of it would exist today if it wasn’t for those passionate sport and nature lovers who fought against the development of the park into a shopping mall.

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“The park is run on three key principles which we strive to provide – infrastructure and facilities; security; and cleanliness,” said Craig, who has been chairman for the past four years. “It is not so easy to do, but we believe that if we provide the sporting codes with these three basic needs, they can and will use their own skill and initiative to thrive.

“The ASC assists the various clubs wherever possible. Recently we assisted the cycling club to set down roots in the park by opening their new clubhouse. Likewise we helped the athletics and soccer clubs to extend and improve their facilities, which has helped grow and sustain them.”

Photo sourced from ASC’s Facebook page.

The Goss and Balfe Sapphire Coast Marathon finishes at the park and this year was deemed the most successful one in recent years. Round Table Amanzimtoti has also been housed at the park and they recently started sharing their clubhouse with Amanzimtoti Lions.

The tennis club was under threat of dying out with new, young players needed, but with passionate committee members, has seen a massive upsurge and positive things are happening. Likewise at the squash club, it continues to thrive and provide.

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Soccer at the park was virtually non-existant, but through hard work from its committee members and current chairman Zenzo Ncube, the club is bulging at the seams with all the various age groups it offers. “We have started to attract players from other areas, because their facilities are not upkept and are not safe. We cannot force people to join our clubs, we encourage them to come, by providing for their needs.”

The park’s two cricket fields would have gone the way of the dodo like many other pitches looked after by the municipality if not for the expertise and passion for the game by Rex Hindman, who loving tends to the pitches like his first-born.

The rugby and cricket clubs both play in the Premier League and always have good support from parents and youngsters. Baseball was played at Hoy Park in Durban for the last couple of years, but the Cardinals have been back home this season. They would welcome youngsters to come down and get involved.

The park is not without problems. “We constantly have sewage fall-out in Ilanda Wilds, which we see as an extension of the park and refer to as our orphan child. There are five pumpstations in and around this area, and old and ageing infrastructure is the main reason for fallout.”

The ASC co-ordinates and controls what happens in the park in partnership with the parks department. The buildings in the park housing Lords and Legends are leased on a month to month basis from eThekwini by the ASC, with Lords being the sub-lessee. All rental money received is ploughed back into the park.

“The ASC appreciates the relationship we have with Karen Lithgow, Garth Lamprecht and Greg Bradfield, working together for the common good. We are currently revamping the function hall, which will improve the facilities on offer further.”

Picture sourced from Lords & Legends’ Facebook page.

Also back at the park is the CCPO. It was initially housed in a prefab container at the park, before moving to offices in the CBD. “The ASC paid for a platform to be built to accommodate a refurbished prefab container to house the CCPO free of charge at the park. We have a fantastic relationship with them. We also partner with ET Rapid Response who protect the buildings, people and their property at the park through CCTV.

If, however, you are ever unfortunate to be a victim of crime while in the park, do not call SAPS, call the CCPO emergency number, which is up all over.” The CCPO also has guards patrol Ilanda Wilds over the weekends. “Safety in the park is our number one priority and it is especially difficult to police because the park is not fenced.”

Should you want to use the park’s facilities a permit is required or preferably join one of the 11 clubs. Call secretary and community liaison woman, Cathy Colley on 083-767-9471 or email colleycathy@gmail.com to book.

Craig as a chairperson is one who prefers to get things done, rather than proclaim what he has done, and leads by example. Over the years the ASC committee has remained virtually the same. “I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by people on the same wave length with bucket loads of passion. The Amanzimtoti Sports Centre is not just for sport, it is for the whole community to enjoy. As long as we can keep maintaining high standards, the future looks bright.”

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