Mantšonyane sports facility takes shape

LuciahPhahla

Thaba-Tseka

The Mantšonyane sports facility which is under construction in ThabaTseka is expected to accommodate several sporting codes including football, netball, volleyball and tennis.

The much-awaited sports complex is being constructed by Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) and its contract manager Sam Ramosoeu said the project is part of the company’s social responsibility efforts.

Ramosoeu told thepost the facility will be handed over to St Lawrence Mission church once complete. The projected completion is 2018, he said.

The Mantšonyane project started in 2013 with the building of a primary and secondary school as well as a priest house. When complete the project will have an administrative office and a boarding house with fully equipped sporting necessities.

MGC’s plan is to have St Lawrence Mission as a community centre with a church, a primary and secondary school as well as a multi-sport stadium.

Ramosoeu, however, could not reveal the capacity of the sporting complex saying it is premature to say. He was also reluctant to disclose the project’s cost but some MGC officials estimated it would be beyond M60 million.

“The facility will include a football ground and tennis, volleyball and netball (facilities). Just like MGC has been doing in other districts, this is also part of the social responsibility played by MGC, giving back to the community,” Ramosoeu said yesterday.

“When we started we had planned to have the project done by 2017 but now looking at things I think we will be done by 2018. It’s difficult and a bit premature to tell the capacity of the facility because the terrain is challenging, there are cliffs,” he added.

Ramosoeu said upon its completion the facility will be handed over to St Lawrence Mission and the school will have the responsibility of maintaining the sports complex and using it to generate income.

“It will be under (St Lawrence Mission), and they will have to sustain it themselves. We want to leave it to them but, of course, we will engage here and there with them as time goes on,” Ramosoeu stated.

“It’s for the Mantšonyane community but even teams from other places can use it. But, like I said, we will leave everything to the mission.”