HUMANSDORP – The president of the Humansdorp-based Douglas Matsha People’s Association (Domapa), Loyiso Matsha, has raised urgent concerns about Kouga Municipality’s plans to allegedly demolish two tennis courts in KwaNomzamo to make way for a car wash facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matsha, a professional tennis coach based in Johannesburg and former triple South African u\/18 tennis champion from the 1970s, said the decision would destroy any hopes of reviving tennis in the Humansdorp area.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I heard from official sources that the two dilapidated KwaNomzamo tennis courts, built in the 1980s, will soon be demolished. A car wash facility will be built there instead. This is disturbing and most unwelcome news,” Matsha said.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tennis coach revealed he has been planning to relocate to Humansdorp and establish a tennis academy in the area, transferring his successful Johannesburg-based operation to the Eastern Cape town.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I was thinking of relocating to Humansdorp in the near future, and thus transferring my successful Johannesburg-based tennis academy to Humansdorp. With the removal of the tennis courts, this seems like an impossible dream,” he explained.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matsha, who won the South African u\/18 championships in both singles and doubles during the 1970s, said he had appealed to the municipality for the construction of six tennis courts with a cottage next to the tennis courts, which will house a caretaker. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that Domapa has offered to pay the salary of the caretaker.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Matsha claims that the municipality never responded to his proposal.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A nationally sanctioned tennis tournament needs a minimum of six tennis courts. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Thus, I have appealed for the construction of six tennis courts, with a residential tennis coach residing on the premises. Kouga Municipality never gave me a reply,” he said.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At a meeting with municipal officials recently, Matsha was allegedly informed that only one multipurpose court would be built at the KwaNomzamo sports ground, serving both tennis and netball. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This will kill tennis, as the tennis and netball players will constantly be fighting for territory,” said Matsha.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tennis advocate expressed frustration that Humansdorp, which he described as “once a haven for tennis in the 1940s until the 1980s,” was about to lose a golden opportunity to benefit from a coach with international experience.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The tennis fraternity is very perturbed by the municipality’s action. It seems that Humansdorp will lose a golden opportunity to have a tennis coach with international experience coming to the area, and helping Kouga to prosper,” said Matsha.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has called on municipal officials to reconsider their decision and is open to discussions about redirecting funds to build six tennis courts. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matsha also encouraged current Kouga councillors to read his books: History of S.A. Black Tennis \u2013 1875 until 2022 and Humansdorp’s Ou Lokasie Will Rise Again \u2013 In a Different Form, to better understand the area’s history.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“By showing interest, the authorities will help the Kouga community’s children gain a lot, and the academy will help lessen gangsterism, drug addiction, alcoholism, truancy and teenage pregnancy,” said Matsha.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the tennis players he coached is Anastacia Simons of Gqeberha, who received a scholarship and completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Southern Illinois University in the USA in 2010. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also coached Gqeberha’s Mandy Saptoe, who played as number one for South Africa’s u\/18 girls’ tennis team in the 1980s. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When approached for comment, Kouga Municipality indicated that the relevant department is investigating the situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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