For someone that has covered the Spar Rygate Cubs since its inception, it’s really comforting to see how Cape Town’s youth festival has crept into the hearts of the local politicians.
This is evident in recent events where the respective ward councillors in the area have made this spectacle a priority – and the launch of the 14th edition of the Cubs held at the Rylands Civic last week was no exception.
A large part of this also has to do with the Festival’s title sponsor in the Spar Mookrey Group, whose timeous partnership and support has taken this event to the next level and turned it into probably the biggest junior football festival on the continent.
Hence, these politicians who proclaim to have the Cubs at heart, should show the young ones that they are committed to the cause by ensuring the event gets the necessary support from the City structures, especially the services like Traffic service, Law enforcement and the Metro police which would ensure the event is successful from a protective point of view.
Another area that can be invested in is the toilet facilities to cater for extra numbers as the event is continuously growing. Some might say that the event has outgrown itself and that the sport complex at Rygate cannot cater to the number of football lovers. However, I say it can as the solution is staring them in the face…
What if the organisers use the Vygieskraal stadium situated right opposite the Johnson Road Sports Complex? This facility lends itself for the occasion. Would it not be ideal where all the finals on the last day can be decided? What if the City closes off Johnson Road for the duration of the event and incorporates the whole precinct – now that would be ample space to have for an ever-growing event – how about that?
This undertaking cannot be supported only by the resident councillor in Athlone, Aslam Cassiem, but his colleagues right across the metro, as there is a team from Paarl in the Boland taking part in the festival this year.
