The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondents
ON a visit to Tshaka Youth Centre on any weekend five years ago, one would be greeted by a hive of activity with sportspersons taking part in various sporting disciplines while a sizeable number of spectators would be watching the action.
A visit last week to the Bulawayo City Council-owned facility in Makokoba revealed an abandoned venue with overgrown grass, while another part of the building has dilapidated rooms with broken beer bottles strewn around.
A hall that houses a gym used by weightlifting enthusiasts seems to be the only section that has retained a semblance of cleanliness and sign that the facility still has some life left to it. The centre used to be a flurry of activity with sporting disciplines such as boxing, basketball, netball, table tennis and volleyball calling the place home.
However, a steady decline in the infrastructure has seen most of the sporting codes dumping the venue with only bodybuilders coming for training sessions. The club was home to former pan-African heavyweight boxing champion, Thamsanqa Dube who was under the tutelage of boxing coach, Philip “Striker” Ndlovu.
The ruins of the volleyball court where many a star cut their teeth lies overgrown with grass
A source privy to goings on at the venue said netball, volleyball and basketball clubs stopped using the facility over five years ago with goalposts having been removed.
“In terms of other sports there are no people who come and use the facility with the posts for disciplines such as volleyball, netball and basketball being removed. I don’t know for what reason. We only had boxers using it for training but they were last here in October 2019, so at the moment there is nothing happening here. There is however, a backyard section that is being used for vocational training in motor mechanics,” said the source who declined to be identified as he is not allowed to talk to the media.
Boxing trainer Ndlovu said he was dismayed by the decline in the state of the facility, adding that lack of upgrades and maintenance had seen other disciplines ditch the centre. The boxing coach said he had his first interaction with Tshaka Youth Centre growing up in Makokoba in the early 1970s as he began his boxing career.
“When I first arrived here there was a lot of activity, not only when it came to boxing but also in other disciplines such as basketball, table tennis and volleyball, among others. Stanley Square was then the home of boxing so it was natural that we train at Tshaka.
“I can narrate many stories about the place as it holds lots of memories and how it nurtured a lot of talent but the fact is, it is now in a sad state. I wish improvements could be done to the place so that it regains its former glory,” he said.
He said the onus was on the city council to revamp the centre and give it a new lease of life, adding that young people need to be taken out of the streets and the centre can provide a good haven of giving youths something to do and nurture talent.
Ndlovu said it would be ideal for corporates to come on board and adopt youth centres that are dotted around the city to revive them. Many youth centres across the city have also fallen into disrepair with few activities taking places at the once vibrant venues that were talent development hubs.
BCC’s director of Housing and Community Services, Dictor Khumalo asked questions to be emailed through the public relations department but had not responded by the time of going to press.
