Constantia Primary School pupils will soon have a safe and healthy space to compete and frolic in thanks to the help of a Noordhoek businessman who worried about the conditions of their playing field.
Brad Bing would regularly drive past Constantia Primary School and see children playing on the corner of Spaanschemat and Ladies Mile roads.
“A mud bath in winter, a dust bowl in summer, we can’t have this in the heart of Constantia,” says Mr Bing (“Turf project for Constantia Primary”, Bulletin February 16 2017).
As owner of the Newlands-based organisation, Sporting Chance, he has assisted the school in the employment and management of its physical education teacher and has sponsored sport equipment.
Residents Jayne Martin and Jane Roberts, who read the initial article and wanted to put something back into the community, assisted Mr Bing to source funding for an Astroturf for the school
Asking residents and businesses to come on board, the completed playing field is now expected to be ready by next month.
Early this year Krige Tree Service trimmed the gum trees to prevent sap from damaging the artificial grass surface.
Then Umzali Civils moved onsite to do the groundwork and Martyn Govender of Perfect Grass will lay the Astroturf. SACS schools have donated their Astroturf which is being replaced with a new pitch.
Mr Bing said this will be laid on the fringe of the pitch to replace the concrete surface. Watching earth-moving equipment prepare the soil for compaction, Mr Bing said it would not have happened without the generosity of the Constantia community.
“When done, these children can play against other Model C schools and we’ll see what talent we have here,” said Mr Bing.
Clifford Cloete, head of department at the school, said it’s an awesome project. “When Brad came with the idea we didn’t think it was possible. Now we thank the community for making it happen so that children can run without hazards and health issues,” he said.
He adds that sports matches can now take place at the school instead of transporting the pupils to other grounds.
Mr Cloete says the school continues to grow with 60 new admissions this year, bringing the total number of pupils to 330.
Sports coach Courtney Klein says teachers and children suffer with the dust. One of the teachers ended up in hospital many times last year. “It will be so much better to have a flat surface to play on and a marked field.”
Mr Bing says because of its name people have a misconception that Constantia Primary School is well to do, but pupils, from Grade R to Grade 7, are children of labourers from local wine farms or of domestic and blue collar workers.Further plans for the school include construction of shelter for parents to be able to watch matches. If you would like more information, contact Brad Bing at brad@sportingchance.co.za or 021 683 7299.
