After several years without a clubhouse, work is now in full swing on the R11-million construction project on South Campus in Summerstrand. “We can’t wait, especially going into the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup which South Africa is hosting,” said Sipho Sibande, the University’s Sport Manager: Cricket and Martial Arts, this week.
“St George’s [in Gqeberha] will get some of the games so we are trying to really work on our facilities so that we may be a preferred training ground.” Madibaz Cricket Club has been a fertile field to grow provincial and national talent. Proteas batsman Tristan Stubbs, who last week is playing at Lords in London, has come through the Madibaz ranks, as have Anrich Nortje, Simon Harmer, Pite van Biljon, Edward Moore, Justin Kemp, Robin Peterson, Sisanda Magala and Lutho Sipamla.
Then there are former Madibaz cricket club coaches like Baakier Abrahams, who is part of the Proteas Women’s coaching staff, and Runeshan Moodley who is the strength and conditioning coach for the Proteas men’s squad. Both Abrahams and Moodley are alumni and played cricket as students before growing their career paths in their respective fields. And there is more talent emerging.
“We have a young group now and are really looking forward to seeing them come through,” said Sibande, citing student Jason Raubenheimer who already plays for the Warriors, and allrounder Ethan Frosler who recently graduated but still plays for Madibaz. Sibande said the new clubhouse would not only benefit senior players, and spectators, but also the broader community, including schoolchildren.
“There are so many opportunities to get schools involved here, they are key stakeholders and we’d like to show the learners our facilities.” The University’s Infrastructure Services and Space Optimisation Senior Director Melvin Syce said the replacement of the old cricket clubhouse was prompted after heavy flooding eroded the soil under the foundations. It became structurally unsafe and as a result the structure had had to be condemned.
Work in progress: demolition has started, and rebuilding is due to take place in the second semester.
In response, the University allocated R11-million for the reconstruction of the dilapidated facility.
The contractor is now on site, carrying out the rebuild which is expected to be completed by December 2025. Syce said the new structure would serve more than one purpose. “We will have a high quality venue that will be able to generate income for the University.
“Parts of the structure will be constructed in cross laminate timber (CLT), and this alternative construction method will be studied by our built environment students as part of ISSO Deputy Director: Projects and Planning Graham Gouws expanded on the design. “The clubhouse area will have glazed walls that will provide panoramic views of the field, and the change room areas are going to be much larger, catering for the modern era,” said Gouws.
The new clubhouse will face the A field and be accessed by other cricket fields as well. A small addition will create a Rugby Club House, which will face B rugby field. Phase One consists of the cricket club house, and the rugby clubhouse will be added in Phase Two in the future as budget permits.
Eagle’s eye: this aerial shot shows the site of the cricket clubhouse
Gouws said the structure was based on current design trends and aimed to meet the needs of Madibaz Sport. Sibande said having a clubhouse again would be “massive” for the University’s cricket programme. “We are all about the culture of brotherhood and sisterhood and a clubhouse plays a huge role. In the past we used to host provincial games and not having a clubhouse meant the club really lost out, because you need change rooms and ablution facilities. For the students it was also a safe space to study before practice.”
In the intervening years, players and visitors have had to use the ablution facilities at the University’s tennis club – but, not for much longer.