by Vince van der Bijl

There was great excitement at Ukhanyo Primary School this week when construction on the Let’s Play artificial field began.

Lets Play in conjunction with Massmart/Walmart, Builders, Hitachi and Supersport have sponsored a 40 x 20m astroturf field at Ukhanyo which will hopefully be completed before the end of the year (weather permitting). This will be the 24th such build for Let’s Play, who focus on providing sporting facilities to underprivileged communities.

The Ukhanyo Sports programme is receiving such a huge boost from the construction of this field and we are  absolutely overwhelmed by their generosity. This will be such an important start to the facilities programme that will see home matches start taking place at Ukhanyo next year. Cricket, rugby, soccer and netball will be played on this field and the school will introduce hockey in 2019.  Being able to invite families and residents to watch sports on this home field will further uplift sport at the school as well as pride in the Ukhanyo brand.

The Let’s Play relationship began this year in March  started when Vaughan Bishop of Let’s Play and Christo Marx of Hitachi visited Ukhanyo to find out more about the  Ukhanyo sports development strategy and the MCC Masi 750 Sports Club programme.  Headmaster Michael Thyali, the vice-principals, coaches, additional members of staff, members of  the SGBs of both the Primary and High Schools as well as management exco members of both Masicorp and the MCC Masi 750 Sports Club also attended this presentation.

The holistic programme offered at the school, as well as the outstanding academic work achieved by the Mascorp and the keen interest and support of the staff and coaches made real impact. The school’s potential as well as the drive and positive spirit of the staff and coaches was self-evident.

Thanks to Vaughan Bishop of Let’s Play, Elzette van Niekerk of Builders, Christo Marx of Hitachi,  Murray McSmith of Belgotex and of course Masicorp’s  project manager Colin Blaikie for their combined efforts in seeing this project through.

We so look forward to the opening of this magnificent 40 x 20 artificial surface playing field – what a gift to Masiphumelele.

Vince