SOUTH AFRICA: More than a year after Rinku Singh’s towering six shattered a glass panel in the press box at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, the damage remains unaddressed due to budget limitations at the stadium.
The six, struck during a T20I between India and South Africa, flew over the back of Aiden Markram's head and left a large crack in one of the glass panels next to the Graeme Pollock pavilion. Despite the passing of 13 months, the panel has not been repaired, and recent incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of the structure.
The press box, typically positioned at a higher altitude to avoid such incidents, came under threat again during the third edition of the SA20 when MI Cape Town’s Dewald Brewis nearly hit another six to the same spot. However, stadium officials have focused on more critical repairs due to ongoing financial constraints.
Terrence, the stadium’s maintenance officer, explained the difficulties in addressing the damage, stating, “Firstly, look at the height. It’s too much and not that easily possible to get fixed because it would require a crane and all sorts of heavy machinery. You can’t bring all that stuff into the field when you have games like these. We’ve had windows broken here at the bottom from time to time. That we fix in a jiffy. So there is always a priority set.” He further explained that the stadium has already undergone essential repairs, including fixing the roof, following a storm in August that severely damaged one of the stands.
“We suffered storms in August, so the entire roof of a stand blew away. And then we made a claim to the insurer, who said it’s wear-and-tear. We can’t really pay for that. And we had to pay around 400,000R. It was quite a big portion,” Terrence continued. He added that other components, like corroded parts, had also required costly repairs. “So, in that context, I am saying it’s not really a priority. Because it doesn’t pose a danger to anybody. Then again, it doesn’t mean that it’s not on our list to get it fixed.”
The damage from Rinku’s six was humorously acknowledged by former South African pacer Dale Steyn, who was on commentary at the time. “Someone in the eastern bay of Gqeberha won’t be too happy with Rinku Singh breaking one of their windows,” Steyn remarked. While Rinku later apologized for the incident, the complexity of repairing the damage is evident.
Terrence also clarified a common misconception regarding the glass used in the press box, stating that it is safety glass, not bulletproof. Safety glass is designed to crack internally when subjected to heavy impact, ensuring that it does not break into dangerous shards. While this feature enhances safety, it also makes repairs more expensive and complicated due to the need for cranes and skilled labor.
“The stadium doesn’t belong to us. I am just passing through here. I will be here for a couple of years tops, and then I will be gone,” Terrence said, emphasizing his role as a caretaker of the venue. “This stadium belongs to the municipality. And we are the custodians. When the members of the public walk in here, they look at the stadium and probably think, ‘Are these people looking after our assets?’ And I say to them, ‘I want to be remembered that I’d done a good job.’”
Since his arrival in 2017, Terrence has overseen significant upgrades at St George’s Park, but the location’s proximity to the sea has led to corrosion, complicating maintenance efforts. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to ensuring the stadium’s upkeep, relying on a small team due to budget limitations. "I have two maintenance guys here. We don’t have too many contractors because of our budget," he added.
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