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According to him, this is a major disrespect by the council, who has neglected this field for years. Here's how he explained it:

Bernard 'Dubu' Thomas - Caretaker
"This councilor came to me about a year and a half ago at this compound and told me what he had planned. I told him that nothing is wrong with what he has planned, what he has planned for the community is very good but I told him that he cannot come here and do what he wants. A game plan is already here, I just want you to build on it - not destroy. We had a lot of ups and downs and differences and the man sent a case of paint so I hired some boys to paint the bleachers. The people at the City Council office criticize - that's all they do and the contribution to this compound is not out of his pocket, it's contributions from the business people. Why this special councilor have something personal against me? I don't know what it is. The last session him and I had was when the building was torn down so I told him we won't tear the building down until we get back material to build the building because the building is old. Why I am mad is because in my previous 30 years, no councilor has every disrespected me like Bernard Pitts and I crossed with him because this is not the way to move - I am not just anybody here, I'm somebody here because I created this place single handedly, alone. All of my thousands that I used to play soccer - I invested it here, I didn't have to because I knew this place didn't belong to me - I acknowledge that it doesn't belong to me but the government has neglected the place so many years that I decided to control it and bring back a stadium for the environment and the children. This is not for Dubu or Thomas - it's for the children, everyday this is the field that has the most children everyday. If you come out here one day after 4oclock and the amount of children that are out here at that time - you would be frightened from age to and up, I control every one and every one has respect and manners. My community is one of the most discipline community in this south side and if these guys come and humiliate me like this in front of my children - what won't these guys do to other people?"

And we spoke to Councilor Bernard Pitts this evening, who said that "Dubu" Thomas has not presented the full picture.

Here's how he explained why this structure was torn down:

Bernard Pitts - City Councilor
"The City Council and myself, we are all in support of Dubu of what he has done over the years. We believe that he has done an excellent job, however, it's time for us to look at things in a different perspective. In terms of the structure - he knows that there's a plan to put up a better structure, perhaps maybe cement to hold whatever equipment or even the caretaker, whatever the case may be. We're just doing this in phases. Mr. Thomas is fully aware of this situation and for him to behave in a manner counter to that - we're not supportive of it. He needs to understand that if he wants to do anything -then fine, let us agree and work it out but don't go behind our backs and say the opposite. He knows that we're working on the fields, he knows that we're going to put back something there so I don't see any harm or any foul in it. We plan to do a summer camp there, we plan to do a football tournament as soon as the contractor is finished with this first phase of the work."

And in addition to that, Councilor Pitts told us that City Hall has done much to accommodate "Dubu" Thomas, and because he has worked so hard on the field, he has a sense of entitlement where some of his requests are unreasonable to accommodate.