KwaZulu Natal Provincial Parliament
PIETERMARITZBURG:  23 April 2008  

Mr Speaker I have passion for sport. In my day I played four sports soccer, cricket, basketball and table tennis at the time it was at the highest level in KwaZulu Natal. I competed or played with Graham Kidd, George Spencely, Clive Barker, Ashwin Valjee, Daram Naido, Bob Pillay and the late Jackie Mc Glew, Roy Mc klean and Dennis Lindsay. I have also been involved in two sports for over fifty years. In those days KwaZulu Natal was a leader in most sports. Sadly today our cricket is in a “shambles” our soccer has not won a trophy for many years our athletes hardly exist amongst the top stars, and boxing has no champs. The only sports with success are those with good foundations: rugby, swimming and hockey. You tell us Mr Minister, though it doesn’t excite me, horse riding is on the up, motor racing is the “big thing”, and we are the “best run province in South Africa”. Certainly we are producing top athletes in some sports but we are losing our stars of the “future to other provinces” just as quickly, so I think we have a big problem and things in KwaZulu Natal Sport are not as rosy as you make out.

When the sport portfolio was announced I was very excited and was one of the first to volunteer to serve on the portfolio. Two of my aims were to insure a sports academy was started this had already been suggested by a previous IFP Minister. The other item was to ensure that sport facilities in the city of Maritzburg were up to the standard of what would be expected in the Capital of KwaZulu Natal. Once this had been achieved the aim was to move my attention to the rural areas. I have persistently pushed the academy subject but as you know, nothing has occurred as yet. Time has gone by, and both you and I are just about at the end of our term and I “see no silver lining”. I have even changed my form of debate and I now am just asking for a weekend training camp every four to six weeks but sadly I have not even been successful in this regard.

Before the SA Games last year the athletes, over four hundred of them, were accommodated in Newcastle for four days. Those that were present know of the exciting vibes that this caused and we also know of the results at the championships. First place, over one hundred and thirty five gold medals came back to KwaZulu Natal from Bloemfontein. We know that some sports have South African Academies in Gauteng and there are private ones in KwaZulu Natal, which are paid for by those taking part. Not all parents want their young children to take up residence in Gauteng and others cannot afford the costs of this expert training. Again I ask you Mr Minister in our term of office give our players of the future a chance: at least let's start a KwaZulu Natal training camp for “our stars of the future”.

The sport I still heavily administrate, ran a week long training camp recently in Maritzburg. This was sponsored by a grant in aid and funds raised by the parents. Every day for nearly a week the young players were put through their paces by leading coaches for five hours a day. On the fourth day due to light problems the hours were extended from 4pm to 6pm to make up time. One of the mothers tried to enforce her young daughter to keep to the time that had been laid down. The ten years old daughter was adamant that she must stay as if she went home she would be “deprived” of two hours of practice. This young girl is one of the bright prospects in the game: she is voted in the top four in South Africa.

She has the talent the enthusiasm and the will to win but sadly, this young prospect as it is now has little chance of reaching the top in KwaZulu Natal. You can’t be a leading player in any sport practicing once a week. Yes Mr Minister the administration, the Municipality and even the KwaZulu Natal Minister and his department are “depriving” this very talented young player of reaching the top as we don’t have the facilities for our “stars of the future “to practice. The minor sports, boxing, karate, gym, wrestling, body building, table tennis are requiring facilities and others like basketball, indoor soccer, hockey and badminton also have the same problem.

Mr Minister with regard to a community indoor sports centre in Martizburg, the only one is the YMCA. If you manage to persuade a sporting code to play their SA Championships in Maritzburg and it is a week long event the cost would be over twenty two thousand rands, one hundred and fourty rand an hour. On checking the facilities thirty five florescent and sixteen bell lights were not working Mr Minister I realise this does not come under your jurisdiction, but is it not time you asked your ANC Premier, cabinet and colleagues to assist you to speak to ANC Msunduzi Municipality and the ANC District council to help them to sort out their problems. As you know you told us many months ago, possible even years, that Maritzburg was to have an athletic track and Harry Gwala Stadium was to be upgraded, but nothing has occurred. Maritzburg has been deprived for long enough. Mr Minister please use your “power” and provide the facilities which are long overdue.

We now come to the SA Schools summer tournament which I believe SA Sport completely funded including kit, track suits and kit bags. The federation event got virtually nothing and those taking part are meeting their own costs. At the federation tournament SA players are selected to represent the country. At the schools event the athletes in matric are selected to take part, but these boys and girls are not even graded as it is said they are now finished school as the event takes place in December. What is the purpose of them taking part in the first place if this is the case. There is also the problem that some of the sports are not even played at school level. Possible they should be, but this is not happening and I would suggest Mr Minister this should be enforced. The school should not be riding on the federations back and if they do not comply they should delete the sport from the summer games. We in the IFP feel that more effort should be made by some schools to encourage sport. This is where the foundation should be laid and we are not taking full advantage of it.

Finally Mr Speaker when I visit the sports department headquarters at 135 Pietermaritz Street. I seldom see the top management. We know they are all in attendance on most Mondays when they pay the capital a visit. When you want to speak to these people we should not have to phone the secretary in Durban to make a appointment with them. They should all “now” be located in Maritzburg something the premier was very proud of in his speech. Lastly, letter heads must refer to the head office in Maritzburg with the phone numbers also included. It certainly will be a pleasure, Mr Minister, to be able to visit the management in the Capital of KwaZulu Natal and not be referred to someone in Durban. I must say though, I have had first class service from Mr Dlodlo and his secretary;it is certainly a pleasure to deal with them.