South Africa’s soccer structures unveiled

Building and upgrading the World Cup stadiums is a huge undertaking for South Africa. Host City takes a tour of the venues as the turnstiles begin to spin

The prospect of a World Cup in Africa has generated a lot of scepticism about whether the sporting infrastructure will be in place in time. Danny Jordaan, LOC CEO, says: “There was one newspaper that gave a report that said: Ellis Park will be ready. Loftus may be ready. Royal Bafokeng: unlikely. Free State Stadium will be ready. Cape Town: never. Durban: very unlikely. Port Elizabeth: never. And so it went on.” Using this criticism as a backdrop, Jordaan insists that all stadiums will be ready by October 2009, saying, “We have made substantial progress.” With not long to go now before kick off, we find out just how much work there is still to do.

A 2008 deal with FIFA sponsor Coca Cola has added colour
to the Johannesburg stadium formerly known as Ellis Park

The Confederations Cup venues
World Cup matches will be held in ten stadiums, five of which are existing venues that are being upgraded. Four of these revamped stadiums face their first real test during the Confederations Cup from 14 to 28 June. FIFA consultant Horst Schmidt says: “The Confederations Cup this year is an important moment in testing the venues and systems. It is the first test for the operational functionalities and it will be the first time stadiums are in operation in a World Cup format.”
Host City looks at how these upgrades are progressing in the run up to the Confederations Cup.

Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg
Danny Jordaan says: “Ellis Park, where the Rugby World Cup final was played, is world class.”
Host City says: “Initially a venue for Rugby Union, the stadium is now co-used by the Orlando Pirates football team as a home ground and has already added 5,000 seats in anticipation of World Cup crowds, increasing capacity to 65,000. The stadium is ready and the focus has now shifted to redeveloping the surrounding precinct. The renowned stadium sold its naming rights last year to Coca Cola.”

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Danny Jordaan says: “This Confederations Cup stadium in Pretoria is ready.”
Host City says: “In February 2009, a premier league match was postponed that was supposed to mark the opening of the first stadium to be upgraded to World Cup level – but it’s ready for action now. Features such as floodlights, sound system, scoreboards and the stadium roof all have been improved and capacity has been increased from 45,000 to 50,000.”

Free State, Bloemfontein
Danny Jordaan says: “We went to the stadium in Bloemfontein with the General Secretary of FIFA. This stadium is ready, with absolutely world class facilities.”
Host City says: “Capacity is up by a third to 48,000. Security, sound, lighting and display systems have all been upgraded in time for the Confederations Cup.”

Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg Nketu Matima, Rustenburg’s 2010 coordinator, says: “I think people are going to be very impressed with the facilities at the stadium when they visit for the Confederations Cup.” Host City says: “The Nelson Mandela Challenge – the first international test of the revamped ground – was a triumph for the South African team but revealed inadequacies in the turf. A new pitch is being laid that should have time to settle before the Confederations Cup. Capacity is 42,000.”

The centrepiece: Soccer City, Johannesburg
Danny Jordaan says: “Bigger than the Stade de France, bigger than the Berlin Olympic Stadium, bigger than the Yokohama stadium, it will be one of the biggest stadiums to host the opening and final matches of a World Cup.”
Host City says: “South Africa’s first purpose built international football stadium is in the later stages of a major upgrade to create a capacity of 94,700. The cladding is almost finished, making it look more like the African clay pot of the designs.”

A new beginning for football
These first five venues are improved existing structures, while the remaining five are new builds. Isolated from international football and neglected by South African sports authorities through the long years of apartheid, South Africa’s football infrastructure developed at a much slower rate than enthusiasm for the sport from the predominantly ‘black’ working class of the society. In recent years, for security and commercial reasons, major matches have typically taken place in stadiums designed for rugby – the ‘white man’s sport’ – which means fans have had to sit further away from the goal-line. The country is making the most of the opportunity to make up for lost time. More than USD 1bn is being spent on creating several purpose-built football stadiums.

Moses Mabhida, Durban
Danny Jordaan says: “There is a viewing platform on top of the arch of the stadium. If you are fit you can walk the 4,500 steps up to the viewing platform and see the view, or there will be a cable car that will take you up there. This is going to be one of the best stadiums in the world.”
Host City says: “The iconic arch is finished but Durban still has a long way to go to get this 70,000 capacity stadium finished. The viewing platform won’t be accessible during an event – but then who wants to admire the view when the World Cup is taking place?”

Green Point, Cape Town
Danny Jordaan says: “The compression ring that keeps the roof of the stadium together has been put in place and they are installing the seats. From level four and higher, you can see onto Robben Island; you can see the entire coastline of Cape Town and you can see Table Mountain.”
Host City says: “The views will disappear once the cladding is on and the top tier will be removed after the World Cup – but nonetheless this spectacular 69,000 seat stadium in an extraordinary location is taking shape and should be ready by October.”

Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth
Danny Jordaan says: “Now all of the girders are on and a community match to test the facilities has been played. This stadium will be complete by the end of April 2009 when we hand it over and the British and Irish Lions will play a match here in May 2009.”
Host City says: “The new 48,000 seat stadium in Port Elizabeth was removed from hosting the Confederations Cup because of fears it would not meet its deadlines. But of all the new venues, this is closest to completion.”

Peter Mokaba, Polokwane
Danny Jordaan says: “This stadium will also be complete by October of this year.”
Host City says: “Progress at the new 46,000 seat stadium is going slowly. Price pressures have forced the project team to restrict the roof to the main stand only. Completion by October will be a challenge.”

Mbombela, Nelspruit
Danny Jordaan says: “Nelspruit is close to the Kruger national park. If your team plays badly you can take a drive and visit the lions, the hippos and the elephants in the game park. It’s a unique experience.”
Host City says: “This project has had a number of issues to deal with, from workers’ strikes to finding an additional USD 5.5m for connecting the 44,000 seat stadium to the sewage system. The stadium will be ready for June 2010 but if there is one stadium that lags behind it will be Mbombela.”