GQEBERHA – A soccer club in Sidwell is fighting to survive amid safety concerns and a lack of proper facilities, according to its founder and coach.
Aronia Stride established Sidwell United in 2023 after noticing children playing soccer in the streets and neighbours complaining about damaged windows. What began as a solution to keep 35 young players off the streets has since faced challenges that have reduced the team to just 13 boys.
“We’ve been struggling to play games, and some of the boys don’t have football boots,” said Stride.
The club received its first major breakthrough in December 2025, when Vuyisa Sibhene Inc. Attorneys sponsored the team with football shirts, shorts and a complete goalkeeper strip.
“I’ve sent letters to many well-known big corporates and retailers, but not one came back to us. I lost hope, and then this lady sponsored us last year, and we are just so grateful,” Stride explained.
However, the club’s most pressing concern remains the lack of a safe training facility.
After allegedly being denied access to school grounds due to vandalism in the area, the team practise in a local park on Relton Street.
“There are a lot of homeless people putting up shelters in the open park and they vandalise the electricity substation and steal wires and make fires,” Stride claimed. “It is risky to play in the park – one of the boy’s sandals was stolen, and his mother bought another pair, and they were stolen again.”
The unsafe conditions have contributed to a significant exodus of players. What once comprised U/13, U/10, and U/15 teams has now been consolidated into a single mixed-age squad. “The parents also want the children to have a safe space to practise,” Stride noted, adding that she regularly asks the neighbourhood watch to patrol during training sessions.
Despite the challenges, Stride remains determined to rebuild the club. A former player for Park United during her school years in Arcadia, she draws on her passion for sport.
“This year, I am planning to put them in the positions they are supposed to be. If there is anyone who wants to join the club, they are welcome,” she said.
The club currently operates as an under-15 team but hopes to expand with sufficient support and improved facilities. Anyone interested in sponsoring the team, joining the club, or providing access to a safe football field can contact Aronia Stride on 083 863 7296.
