World Cup 2010: Stadiums – Part 3
This is the next installment about the stadiums that will be used in South Africa next year during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. So far we’ve covered the stadiums in Kwazulu Natal, the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces. All the previously mentioned stadiums are in the major metropolitan areas of South Africa. Today we will cover 2 stadiums which are situated in smaller metropolitan areas. For the record, more than 70% of South Africa’s population is urbanized.
Royal Bafokeng Stadium: The Royal Bafokeng Stadium is situated 12 km outside the city of Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. The Royal Bafokeng stadium is only a 30 minute drive from Sun City and the Pilanesberg. The stadium has been upgraded to seat 42,000 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The roof of the main stand was upgraded as well for about $45 million. The Royal Bafokeng Stadium also has a new electronic scoreboard, new seats, upgraded floodlights and an upgraded public. This address system. This stadium has hosted many Professional Soccer League matches, despite the fact that Rustenburg does not even have a team in the competition. This multi-purpose venue hosted its first rugby international in 2006, for the Tri Nations competition. In the match South Africa beat New Zealand 21 – 20. The stadium has also hosted matches for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area around the stadium. The Bafokeng people won a legal battle in 1999, entitling them to 20% of the platinum being mined on their historic land. Rustenburg is just over 1 hrs drive from South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria / Tshwane. The Royal Bafokeng Stadium will host first and second round matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Related Links:
Royal Bafokeng Stadium – SA Venues
Royal Bafokeng Stadium – Engineering News
Peter Mokaba Stadium: This stadium is situated in Polokwane (formerly known as Pietersburg) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Polokwane is about 3 hours drive from Pretoria / Johannesburg. The Peter Mokaba Stadium is named after one of the sons of the struggle and emancipation against the apartheid regime in South Africa. This is being newly built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is situated just East of the old Pietersburg Stadium in Polokwane. The stadium is about 5 km from the Polokwane city center. When completed in early 2010, this stadium will seat 46,000 people. The city of Polokwane is home to more than 500,000 people. The Peter Mokaba Stadium will host 4 matches in the first round in next year’s FIFA World Cup. This promises to be a very interesting venue.
Related Links:
Peter Mokaba Stadium – Polokwane Website
Peter Mokaba Stadium – Go 2 Africa
