![Gang den now 'theatre of hope'](https://cdn.magzter.com/1605701739/1722374756/articles/bcuCd4JSC1722382862995/GANG-DEN-NOW-THEATRE-OF-HOPE.jpg)
Saddened and angered because a community park was becoming a dilapidated hangout for gangsters and drug dealers, a businessman rallied sponsors and the community to do what the local council couldn't: turn it into a vibrant sport centre that keeps kids off the streets.
It's simple, said Xolani Mathumbo, CEO of Remember Elite Sport Academy. "A child in sports is a child out of court."
Now the refurbished academy in Vereeniging is in a near stateof-the-art condition, standing out in a town full of potholes and broken-down structures.
Today it has green grass, grandstands, a fence, a gym, housing facilities for the players and support staff, a boardroom and other facilities for the more than 280 young players who participate in the academy.
It wasn't always like this, For over 10 years the facility was derelict, unfenced and overrun by drug users and criminals.
Mathumbo said once they built a 1.3km-long wall around the property, the station commander at the local police station told him that the crime rate dropped.
Soccer has always been a part of the Mathumbo family. More than a decade ago, his mother owned a soccer club called Remember Football Club and Mathumbo, once a player himself, remembers his childhood home always being occupied by soccer players needing shelter.
Denne historien er fra July 31, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 31, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Boks chase NZ double](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/V35EKbrmQ1725672773789/BOKS-CHASE-NZ-DOUBLE.jpg)
Boks chase NZ double
South Africa will be attempting to wrestle back the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009.
!['Pecco' aims to pick himself up again](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/pjx-icjyJ1725672723901/PECCO-AIMS-TO-PICK-HIMSELF-UP-AGAIN.jpg)
'Pecco' aims to pick himself up again
Francesco Bagnaia (right) has put his horror crash in Aragon behind him as the MotoGP champion attempts to reclaim top spot from Jorge Martin at this weekend's San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix.
![Kruger boosts SA medal count](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/20c0Qei_F1725672677742/KRUGER-BOOSTS-SA-MEDAL-COUNT.jpg)
Kruger boosts SA medal count
Junior athlete Simone Kruger gave the national team's medal count a boost by claiming gold in the women's F38 discus throw at the Paralympic Games in Paris last night.
![Pegula scripts a dream story](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/_YHE9YxGF1725672599727/PEGULA-SCRIPTS-A-DREAM-STORY.jpg)
Pegula scripts a dream story
Jessica Pegula scripted an astonishing comeback \"just in the nick of time\" to defeat Karolina Muchova on Thursday at the US Open and reach her first Grand Slam final, where she will take on big-hitting Aryna Sabalenka for the title.
![Hunt is very aggravated with PSL's dilly-dallying](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/Veiogz1nH1725672536870/HUNT-IS-VERY-AGGRAVATED-WITH-PSLS-DILLYDALLYING.jpg)
Hunt is very aggravated with PSL's dilly-dallying
SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt (below) has weighed in on the unconventional start to the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
![US soccer icon hanging up her boots](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/pzk-01VOT1725672493096/US-SOCCER-ICON-HANGING-UP-HER-BOOTS.jpg)
US soccer icon hanging up her boots
Los Angeles-US soccer icon Alex Morgan (right), who inspired the Americans to two Women's World Cup football crowns, announced Thursday that she will retire after a final club match tomorrow.
![Irish seek huge upset](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/Fhpff3uJI1725672426967/IRISH-SEEK-HUGE-UPSET.jpg)
Irish seek huge upset
New Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson is hoping to engineer another huge upset against England today-eight years after his Iceland team shocked the Three Lions at Euro 2016.
![Is retiring early an option?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/AOVr1GBx31725672303704/IS-RETIRING-EARLY-AN-OPTION.jpg)
Is retiring early an option?
Early retirement can come with several serious risks.
![Banking on women](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/zad3WKNJz1725672213442/BANKING-ON-WOMEN.jpg)
Banking on women
Having an account does not equate to financial autonomy.
![Failing matric is not the end of life](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/23703/1824141/DVA0QwfTh1725672123826/FAILING-MATRIC-IS-NOT-THE-END-OF-LIFE.jpg)
Failing matric is not the end of life
In a month's time or so, the matric class of 2024 will sit for their final examinations.