By Nangamso Mabindla
3 March 2005

THE Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre in the township's central business district is one of the area's most prized possessions.

Mdantsane has a reputation as the sporting mecca of the Eastern Cape, especially for boxing, which the Buffalo City Municipality enhanced in 1995 when it established the multi-purpose centre. It can accommodate up to 1 200 people and is used for sport, meetings, government workshops, concerts and other community activities.

It was also the venue where the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Project was launched - a R1-billion project announced by President Thabo Mbeki to change the face of the impoverished township.

Rose Boyboy, the complex's administrator, says the indoor sports centre has also helped decrease the crime rate in Mdantsane, the second largest township in South Africa. "Young boys come to train in different sports like boxing, karate and table tennis. We also host gospel concerts and community functions."

Spending so much of their day playing sport, these boys do not have the time to commit crime. Instead they focus on following in the footsteps of the many successful role models who have come from the area. It has produced a number of heroes, particularly in boxing, including former world champions Welcome Ncita, Vuyani Bungu and Masibulele Hawk Makepula.

"The youngsters look up to them. Because of these individuals, the youngsters feel that they can escape crime and poverty by participating in sports and other community projects," says Boyboy.

The Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre has served the community faithfully for a decade already, and Boyboy says she is looking forward to seeing more live boxing matches, religious gatherings and other events at the venue.