Desperately seeking training space

KNYSNA NEWS - Which sporting activities have been allowed and which facilities are available to the public since the lower rungs of the lockdown have been reached has led to confusion in local sporting circles.

Knysna sports and fitness coaches say they have been experiencing difficulties in securing adequate training facilities as local sports grounds have not been made available to them.

When it was announced that gyms, public sports facilities and fields could reopen under Level 2, local rugby coach Aschin Klein planned to use Loerie Park Stadium for fitness training with some of his players and other interested parties. "I was told by the municipality that we couldn't use Loerie Park because the homeless people were still staying there,"

Klein said. Same with the sports grounds in Hornlee, where Klein said he was turned away as well and when he asked for permission from the municipality, it was denied. He has since been using the outdoor gym at Cathy's Park but says this is not ideal because the ground is uneven and therefore unsafe for his athletes.

Another local coach, Herley Julies, who provides children with cycling, strength and conditioning training among others, says he has also had difficulties to find good training space.

During earlier lockdown levels, Julies resorted to training in the streets of Hornlee, but since Level 2 commenced he has also been making use of the outdoor gym at Cathy's Park because he was led to believe he cannot use the other facilities. "It's a serious problem for us, because if we can't afford to pay for transport down from Hornlee to Cathy's Park, then my children have to walk, and that can be dangerous for them," Julies said.

Municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt clarified the confusion and explained that in terms of Government Gazette 43620 of 17 August 2020, clause 55 (i), only sporting activities authorised by recognised sporting bodies were allowed to take place under Level 2 – which is why the Hornlee sports grounds are currently unavailable to the coaches.

Because Loerie Park has been used for temporary accommodation for the homeless during lockdown, Bezuidenhoudt explained, the homeless people are using the clubhouse and the showers as well as the toilet facilities at Loerie Park. "Loerie Park will remain closed until a solution has been found for the homeless people," he said.

Bezuidenhoudt added: "The municipality is in the process of preparing for protocols of the usage of the sport fields in line with the new regulations promulgated by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma under Level 1. We further anticipate that the facilities will be able to be opened on 1 October."

Some of the girls in training with Aschin Klein at the outdoor gym at Cathy's Park in Knysna.