October 23, 2003
By Tshepiso Mogotsi
JUST days ahead of the crucial visit by Fifa officials next week to assess the country's bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Johannesburg's city representatives were making sure all the prospective venues were in tip-top condition.
Some of the sites visited by City Manager, Pascal Moloi, and his squad have been identified in South Africa's bid brochure, supporting its application to host the 2010 event. South Africa's bid company handed in the written application to the Federation of International Football Association in Zurich in September.
Joburg's City Manager, the Chief Operations Officer and other officials took part in the tour "to ensure that when they (the Fifa inspectors) come around everything is in tip-top condition", said Director of Marketing and Tourism in Joburg, Mandy Jean Woods, in a radio interview during a visit to the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
The five-person Fifa team touches down in South Africa next Thursday, 30 October, for a seven-day tour of the country. During their visit, delegates will assess the football stadiums, look at venues for logistical support, and inspect accommodation. They will also get the chance to meet President Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela.
Johannesburg facilities that have been identified as crucial to the South African 2010 bid include the FNB Stadium, more commonly known as Soccer City. This stadium, according to the bid brochure, "will be the focal point of the tournament", hosting the opening match as well as the final of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Other Johannesburg sites include: Ellis Park, suggested for one of the semi-finals; the Nasrec Expo Centre, offered as the main media centre; and the Sandton Convention Centre, to house the Fifa head offices.
The bid company also selected a number of stadiums around the country to host matches or as training venues.
Kings Park Stadium in Durban has been put forward as the venue for the other semi-final match, while Cape Town's Newlands Stadium, the Port Elizabeth Stadium, the Mbombela Stadium outside Nelspruit, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace near Rustenburg, and the Free State Stadium are among some of the venues put forward to host some of the first and second round matches.
Possible training venues include the Giyani and Seshego stadiums in Polokwane; the HM Pitje, Caledonian and Odi stadiums outside Pretoria; the Olympia Park Stadium near Rustenburg; the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban; and the Athlone and Greenpoint stadiums in Cape Town.
The Johannesburg officials investigated the state of the venues, checking the dressing rooms, the stadium lights, the state of the field, and the seating. The City Manager even took the opportunity to demonstrate his own soccer skills on the Ellis Park pitch.
"Everything looks promising," said director for the city's social development department, Bongi Mokaba.
The South African bid company has been equally positive, referring on their web site to the state-of-the-art stadiums, the premier tourist attractions and the extensive accommodation available. "South Africa has proved to be a successful host of many major international events."
And Johannesburg has had extensive experience in hosting global events, including a Cricket World Cup, a Rugby World Cup and last year's United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development.
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