A new indoor cricket facility to the value of almost R15 million is currently under construction at Paul Roos Gymnasium (PRG).
The project is a collaboration between PRG, Stellenbosch University (SU), Remgro and the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS), according to Piet Botha, the head of cricket at PRG. It is expected to be completed by 3 September, Botha added.
An indoor cricket facility is currently under construction at Paul Roos Gymnasium. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
“[W]ith the Western Cape winter weather, it has always been a challenge to run a full-time cricket program,” said Prof Stan du Plessis, chief operating officer at SU. The indoor cricket facility is being built to facilitate a full-time programme, he added.
The facility will be used by PRG cricket teams, Maties Cricket Club and SAS, as they all have a stake in its construction, according to Botha. An operational plan is still in progress, he said.
Investing in this project along with SU and PRG made sense for SAS, because “the indoor cricket centre will further enhance [Stellenbosch’s] reputation as a sport destination that caters for many sport codes”, according to Rob Benadie, chief executive officer (CEO) of SAS.
The ground floor plan of the new indoor cricket facility that is being built at Paul Roos Gymnasium. PHOTO: Supplied/TV3 Architects & Planners
The facility will include six different cricket nets, according to Botha. “One net will be spinner-specific, three nets for seam bowlers, and two bowling-machine nets,” said Botha.
The area outside the building will consist of two areas for players. The inside of the building will contain a conference room, kitchen and locker room, said Botha. There will also be a multi-purpose sports field on a designated portion of the property, adjacent to the facility, according to Du Plessis.
The inside of the new indoor cricket facility which is under construction at Paul Roos Gymnasium. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
“It will be a multifunctional grass sports field with a cricket pitch. During the cricket season it will be used for cricket, and in the off-season for any other sport,” said Du Plessis.
In addition, there will be a reception room, storeroom and coaches office. An analysing room, equipped with a PitchVision analysis system, will be built, according to Botha. PitchVision uses motion-tracking and video analysis to assist coaches and players to focus on specific technical work, he added.
Stephan Jordaan, head of sport at PRG, talks about what the new indoor cricket facility will mean for cricket in the area.
“The facility will overlook the Paul Roos [cricket] oval with a clock on top of the roof, which will give it a traditional cricket ground feel and appearance,” said Botha.