Mthulusi Sibanda
PRETORIA, – ARCADIA Shepherds, one of the country’s oldest football clubs, remains defiant despite orders by the City of Tshwane to vacate the Caledonian Stadium, which has been its home for over a century, and turn the iconic Pretoria stadium into a multi-million fan park, sparking a standoff with city authorities.
Now playing in the lower leagues, Shepherds, which is famous for breaking apartheid rules by fielding a black player, Vincent Julies, during an all-white National Football League encounter in 1976, says the decision marks the club end of the club, which has called the club home for 111 years.
In an interview with Gauteng Guardian this week, Shepherds Chairman, Lucky Manna, insists they will not be leaving the stadium as they are the rightful lease holders adding that the city did not consult the club ahead of plans to convert the facility.
“We are still training at Caledonian Stadium and there are no plans to move. We are staying put,” Minna insists.
“Arcadia Shepherds has a long-term lease to the property. We are still the legal tenants. We have legal notices and documents pending with the council that mean’t to give us a long-term lease, which is renewable every ten years.”
Concern has been raised moving from Caledonia Stadium would result in the club’s demise, which besides being known for being defiant to apartheid laws, has a rich history of producing some of the country’s greatest players and some memorable Cup achievements.
Among those to hone their playing skills there are Deshi Bhaktawer, Noel Cousins, Mark Fish, local hero Mark Anderson, Thomas Madigage, and most recently former Bafana Bafana captain, Bongani Khumalo, and its forward Katlego Mphela.
Mark Evans, Edward Motale and the late Kerryn Jordan also launched their successful careers at the modest club.
Bobby Charlton, the legendary England player and captain played for Shepherds in the whites-only league in the mid-70s.
Absa Premiership side, Supersport United, then-called Pretoria City, also used the 5 000-seater stadium as its home ground.
Supersport United, then-called Pretoria City, also used the, positioned at the entrance of the central business district of the capital.
Formerly a white-only side, Shepherds experienced their most successful season in 1974, where they won “the triple”: NFL Championship, Castle Cup and the NFL Bowl Cup.
After this the club won the National Premier Soccer League Cup Competition in 1982 as well as the NPSL Sales House Cup in 1985and the 1986 BP Tope Eight.
It is reported the Caledonian Society from Scotland bought Caledonian Stadium in the late 1800s. Although the society sold the land to the Pretoria municipality in 1916 it was done so with the conditions that this facility was reserved for sport and mainly for football.
Efforts to get a comment from Tshwane City spokesperson, Blessing Manale were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.
According to Shepherds, there was a 100 year lease on the facility for the team, which was given to the club by council in lieu of land sold to the council.
The opposition Democratic Alliance meanwhile condemns the decision by the city council to “evict” Shepherds from Caledonian Stadium.
“Not only will this leave the Shepherds without a home but deprive hundreds of children from under-resourced schools with facilities to develop their skills. This is a crime against the children of Tshwane,” says the DA Mayoral Candidate for Pretoria Solly Msimanga
Besides hosting Shepherds, Caledonia Stadium hosts the Sunday league, social football and church leagues.
“Further to this, children from poor schools without sporting facilities who make use of the stadium for soccer practice and coaching, as well as the local Women’s Soccer Association, are on the record against the proposed development and the loss of the use of the stadium,” Msimanga adds.
– Guardian
