THE Rosedale Indoor Sports Centre, once a vibrant hub for sports enthusiasts and a cherished sanctuary for local athletes, is set for an inspiring revival.
This iconic venue will host an exciting new initiative led by “Running 4 Jesus,” a non-profit organisation and former Kariega volleyball players. Among them are members of the legendary Kariega Terminators team from the 1980s, who return to the sport not as competitors, but as mentors eager to share their love for volleyball with the next generation.
These dedicated individuals, who honed their skills at the sports centre, aim to reignite extra-mural activities in Rosedale and inspire a passion for volleyball among young learners.
To promote inclusivity and community engagement, Running 4 Jesus is launching the Multisure Senior Secondary Schools Mini Volleyball League.
This tournament invites schools across Kariega, welcoming all students interested in volleyball, whether from the township or elsewhere. Operating independently, without external assistance, their mission is to restore the sports centre to its former glory and create an incredible experience for all participants.
Allan Maarman, the chairman of Running 4 Jesus, said, “Clark Coetzee started this initiative with local schools. The objective was to have these learners play volleyball again, with schools going against each other and schools against the legends of the sport, which is where the league will start. There will be three phases: the Mini Process, the Senior Process, and from there, the start of the club. Each of the legends will take a school to train, and the learners that outgrow the Senior Process will join the club, which will be formed at a later stage.”
Maarman explained, “Most educators at our local schools, with all due respect, don’t have time for sports, so we thought it would be a good idea to revive volleyball in our community.”
He added that playing sport is beneficial for the brain. His grandchild was just introduced to swimming, which improved her sleep at night.
“The majority of criminal activity happening in our neighbourhoods is because of a lack of extra-mural activities. Looking back at when we were younger and used to play here, there was not as much gang activity happening because we were active. Plus, playing sport is good for brain functionality, as being active allows oxygen to reach your brain.”
He said, “The only struggle we have is financial. Running 4 Jesus pays for the use of the gym independently. We would like more sponsors to help us make this initiative a reality for many more learners so they can have the same opportunity we had of being active in a positive way. Sponsors can come in many forms, even if you donate a kit to a child.”
Additional needs include equipment such as balls, a volleyball net, transport for the learners to get to and from practice, and nutritional food such as sandwiches and fruits for children to have after practice, as some do not have enough food to eat during the day at school.
Maarman said that they have opened up this initiative to benefit more Kariega learners and not only those from Rosedale and surrounding areas.
“We love volleyball, we know what volleyball did for us; it provided us with a reason to stay off the streets. We want to reignite the same passion we had,” said Maarman.
Maarman believes that this initiative will instil values and pride in learners, something he believes is scarce today.
He further explained that for this initiative to be a success, involvement from parents is crucial.
He also added that the reason for this initiative transcends just sports. “We want to bring back what is lost, which is passion. We had little then, but we made the most of it.”
Peter “Sparrow” Maarman, a former coach of the South African champs u/19 and also a member of the Terminators Volleyball team of 1987, said he is excited about the new journey of giving back to his community by coaching these learners.
