Kumba Iron Ore builds new soccer field in Newtown
23 April, 2014
Anglo American’s business unit, Kumba Iron Ore continues to make a real difference in the lives of the Tsantsabane community, having built a new soccer field for the youth at the historical Newtown soccer field, one of the oldest sports facilities in the town. Having previously played on a dirt field in Newtown, the newly developed fields now provide local clubs a place to play and the youth of the area an opportunity to develop their soccer skills.
Kumba's Kolomela mine partnered with the Tsantsabane Municipality and Tsantsabane Local Football Association (TSALFA) as part of its integrated development plan to promote sport and recreation, which has the ability to effect social change.
Joseph Dingashe, a 67 year-old popular community leader from Newtown notes that the new sports field is a dream come true and has very sentimental value to him, particularly as a former soccer player who played on the old dirt field for many decades.
"Through the years I grew from being a soccer player to being the team coach and retired at age 59 as the team manager. During this transition in my lifetime, the conditions of the soccer field only got worse but we continued pleading for assistance and hoped for the best. We have been waiting for this day since 1971 and today I am very pleased that our passion and patience has paid off.
Thanks to Kolomela for making this possible, our children will not experience the hardships through which we had to train in our time. As parents and the community, we are very humbled because this touches our hearts as we look back where we come from and see the bright future of our children through this facility", said Dingashe
The project, which cost R4 million was completed in only six months by local contractors and consists of a fenced grass soccer pitch, an irrigation system, goalposts and high nets. There's also an ablution facility with change rooms, showers and a referee room for two teams, as well as two sixty-seat pavilions and two substitute benches.
Norman Mbazima, chief executive of Kumba concludes that the soccer field is part of the company's ongoing involvement with its neighbouring communities.
"As a mining company, we believe that we should leave a lasting legacy in the communities where we operate. Building the soccer field forms part of this commitment to inspire young people to be engaged citizens. We recognise that sport has the ability to bring about socio-economic advantages that will benefit the community and it provides the capacity to stimulate social change by providing a safe and professional sporting facility."