A first-of-its-kind sporting hub emerged in the heart of the Northern Cape with the official inauguration of the Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) sport precinct in Kimberley.
This mixed-use sport precinct, which was inaugurated a month ago, offers an array of sporting amenities and more.
It opens vast opportunities for all the staff and students at SPU – in particular, its talented athletes in various sporting codes, but will also benefit the wider Northern Cape community by representing a sporting and recreational lifeline.
As the Northern Cape’s first public university, SPU has injected new life and purpose into an entire region, and now also presents state-of-the-art sporting facilities, including football, netball, hockey, tennis, basketball, rugby, cricket, and volleyball arenas.
The university has made the precinct available to the public and for local professional teams such as Griquas Rugby and the Hungry Lions Football Club.
‘Impact on the NC great’
The National Lottery Commission (NLC) part-funded the project, and NLC commissioner Jodi Scholtz expressed her pride in being part of this, saying the commission intends to provide opportunities for our youth, and that in doing so it is proving how vital it is to use education in our fight against poverty.
“We are proud to have been part of this project with the Sol Plaatje University, as the university cements its mark in the province.
“These sport facilities will have a great impact on the Northern Cape community at large and will increase the number of sporting programmes for the university and surrounding community.”
Prof. Andrew Crouch, principal and vice-chancellor of SPU, emphasised the significance of sports in nation-building, stating sport is deeply embedded in all social aspects of South Africa and goes much deeper than just a sport that is watched for fun.
“Sport has been used to unite people, entertain, and create opportunities for people throughout the country who would not have had these opportunities otherwise.”
He outlined the strategic objectives of sports at SPU, which include increasing knowledge, producing sporting excellence, generating income, and creating a high-performance sport centre, all while supporting the academic mission of the university.
Facilities extensive
The sport precinct boasts an extensive array of modern sport and recreational facilities, which include:
- two sport pavilions and the Windhoek Draught Park Stadium (acquired by SPU in 2021), from where prestigious recreational events and sport tournaments will be hosted;
- a hockey Astro turf with practice field;
- netball, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts;
- a dual-purpose rugby and soccer stadium, plus dual-purpose football, and cricket fields;
- a cross-fit gym, cricket nets, and exercise space;
- a sports pavilion overlooking the soccer fields and volleyball courts, housing change-rooms, a sports store, tuck shop and eating areas, recreation and lounge areas, offices, and meeting rooms;
- a second sports pavilion overlooking the hockey fields and multipurpose hard courts, with a first aid room and a commentator box;
- various multi-functional buildings such as the multi-purpose community hall, an existing building refurbished and renovated into a versatile hall for graduations, large lectures, or theatre productions;
- the staff recreation facility, accommodating administrative and academic staff with conference facilities, lounges, offices, and a dining hall, including inside and outside seating areas;
- the eco centre, comprising a recycling area, maintenance yard, workshops, and storage facilities;
- modern student residences, offering accommodation for over 700 students, along with an additional six wardens’ apartments and eight seminar rooms; and
- the bulk services building, providing water storage and treatment equipment, pump rooms, and IT and electrical infrastructure.
