The Ranch Resort outside Polokwane, the training base for Bafana Bafana this week, has been a preferred pre-season destination for big teams like Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs in recent years.
Fellow Betway Premiership clubs such as SuperSport United, Cape Town City FC, Golden Arrows and AmaZulu FC also spend weeks camping at the facility.
The training facilities were first built in 2010 before the FIFA World Cup. Mexico used it as their camp before their Group A match against France at New Peter Mokaba Stadium. Mali, Zambia, Senegal, and Zimbabwe are some African nations that have utilised the facility.
Outside of football, Rugby teams such as the Blue Bulls, Sharks, Western Province, Lions, and Edinburgh from Scotland have also used the facility.
SAFA have now chosen the place, situated 25km outside of Polokwane, for Bafana Bafana’s weeklong camp ahead of the match against Lesotho on Friday. It includes a High-Performance Centre and techno gym equipment.
WHAT ATTRACTS CLUBS TO USE THE RANCH REPORTS TRAINING FACILITIES
Sports Manager at the Ranch Nico Myburgh has explained to this publication what he thinks attracts clubs to the facility.
“I don’t think there are soccer fields in the country that are in the same state as our fields,” Myburgh explained to FARPost.
“The personal touch connection to the teams, technical team, team managers, which put us in a different league. We want the teams to be at home when they are away from home. So, the personal touch, from the accommodation to the food, we make sure that everyone is prepared and ready for the teams.
“We do not allow any other activities on our fields. We look after our fields like gold, and I think that’s a big add-on for the teams.”
BAFANA BAFANA FEELING AT HOME AT THEIR TRAINING BASE IN LIMPOPO
Myburgh added: “The other big thing is that we are between two cities. So, privacy and security are huge factors. We ensure that we comply with the teams’ requests regarding the security aspect of things. So we don’t just allow people to just come in and bother players.”
Meanwhile, FARPost also tried to establish the costs of utilising the facility. “Cost-wise, it depends. They differ from your PSL [Betway Premiership], Motsepe Foundation and also your Universities,” revealed Myburgh.
“So we try to accommodate each and every one. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the breakdown that the team needs and wants from meal requirements and all of that.”
RELATED STORY: Hugo Broos forced to make changes in his squad