FC Bo-Kaap is training at the Strand Street Quarry field after the City cleaned and secured the area.
The club’s chairman, Yazheed Samsoedien, says they’ve been training there for six weeks and are happy to be doing so closer to home.
“We have players from under 8, who are part of the club up until an under-14 team, as well as a senior team. Travelling to and from Sea Point and Green Point to train was not feasible and then we decided to check out the quarry.
“We wanted to clean it up, but it was difficult, and we reached out to (ward councillor Francine Higham) to assist us, and she did,” Mr Samsoedien said.
“They even marked the field and we train twice a week. Not all the lights are working, but as soon as they do, then the senior team will be able to train in the early evenings. We used to train at the tennis courts at Bo-Kaap, but this is much better for our players,” he said.
Ms Higham said that with the help of the sub-council manager, Girshwin Fouldien, the City’s recreation and parks department had provided some bags and gloves for the clean-up and the Green Point Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (GPRRA) had also assisted.
She said the recreation and parks department had allocated resources to regularly mow and clean the quarry.
“If any residents or community organisations are interested in organising clean-ups in the area, we will do what we can to assist,” she said.
GPRRA co-chairperson Liz Knight said they had been happy to help with the clean-up and had also donated football boots to the team.
“GPRRA is involved because we are neighbours, and we think the move to transform the quarry for the Bo-Kaap community is an excellent initiative, especially for the youth of Bo-Kaap and especially providing a sporting facility,” she said.
Ms Higham said the property was still unlawfully occupied, but the City had installed lighting and restored the fencing to improve security.
The Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association did not respond to questions by time of publication.
