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Safa’s new home takes shape

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Safa CEO Dennis Mumble says their state of the art technical facility is on track  Picture: Sifiso Nkosi
Safa CEO Dennis Mumble says their state of the art technical facility is on track Picture: Sifiso Nkosi

Safa’s state of the art National Technical Centre is slowly taking shape.

Last year, the association forked out R65 million on the Fun Valley Pleasure Resort, an entertainment and holiday venue in the south of Joburg, with the purpose of turning the facility into a world-class technical centre.

In 2014, Safa revealed plans to build the technical centre as part of the World Cup Legacy Trust.

The centre, which is situated on the Golden Highway between Eldorado Park and Lenasia, will house all the national teams.

It will offer the most modern training facilities available. Banyana Banyana are holding their Olympic Games training camp at the centre already, which Safa has dubbed the new home of South African football.

Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble told City Press the first phase of construction, which would cost about R50 million over the next five years, was already in progress.

He said the bulk of the money would come from the Legacy Trust Fund.

Mumble said they would also source funds from private donors.

Last week, Safa’s national executive rubber-stamped the artist’s impression of the facility and gave it the go-ahead.

“We have already budgeted R25 million for this year and have applied to Fifa for more funding. We are looking at constructing four full pitches – two natural grass and two artificial, a security wall and upgrade on accommodation,” said Mumble.

He explained that they also wanted to add an Astroturf pitch, hence the application to Fifa.

“We are entitled to $600 000 (R9.53 million) from Fifa every year and we have asked them if we could get it earlier so we could push our project. If it goes ahead, it will go out on tender, which normally takes about three months, and we are looking at around June or July to start with the construction. We are confident of getting the funds,” said Mumble.

He said that because of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, the country was treated differently from the rest of the continent for the Fifa Goal Project, which provides funding for essential football projects.

“All we got from Fifa were the Football for Hope centres in the Khayelitsha and Alexandra townships. I think we have presented a solid case to Fifa to be granted the funds. We will know soon and begin to clear the area in February.”

He said they were going to approach other associations and universities with a view to sharing the facility.

“We think our medical science centre should be open to other associations and universities for research purposes.”

He said they would keep the pleasure resort operational to bring in revenue for the maintenance of the area.

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