One million hours have passed in the building of the landmark World Cup Soccer City stadium - and there have been no injuries.

Paying tribute to the workers at Soccer City: Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) and the City's 2010 executive director, Sibongile Mazibuko

CONSTRUCTION workers at Soccer City, proud of being involved in building one of the most impressive stadiums in Africa, may have a chance to watch 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches at the venue.

This was revealed by Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC), at Soccer City on Friday, August 15 during an event organised by the main contractors, Grinaker-LTA, to celebrate one million injury-free hours on site.

Jordaan said he would raise the proposition at the FIFA board meeting in recognition of the workers' sterling work on site.

"This is the best stadium ever in our country and we recognise your contribution. Some people have been saying that the stadium won't be ready by 2010 but the work that has so far been done proves otherwise," he said to cheers from the 2 400 workers.

Soccer City Stadium, formerly FNB Stadium, will host the opening ceremony and the opening and final matches of the World Cup. It is undergoing major upgrades and will seat 94 700 people when complete; the completion date is July 2009.

Deadline
Mike Moody, the Soccer City project director, said the stadium was about 56 percent complete, with just under a year to go to completion deadline.

A celebration for the 2 400 workers at Soccer City

"The roof is going up and 20 000 seats have already been installed," he said.

Addressing the jubilant workers, who were entertained by maskandi group, Khipha Kesh, the City's 2010 executive director, Sibongile Mazibuko, commended them for the excellent progress being made in the stadium's construction.

"You are the 'sweat of the nation', the team that will bring the World Cup to us. I am proud to say that in terms of construction and safety, Soccer City is leading the other nine stadiums that are going to host the tournament," she said.

Mazibuko urged the workers to continue to be vigilant on site and called for teamwork. "Each man and woman here should be more careful as construction continues and draws to a close," she said.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) secretary general, France Baleni, also commended the workers for the safety record, attributing this to the good relations between the highly organised labour and management.

Sadly, the celebrations were dampened by news that a worker at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, one of the other venues being built for the World Cup, had died on site.

"We would like to send our most sincere condolences to the family of the worker who tragically died at the Peter Mokaba Stadium site today," Jordaan said.

"It is the first death recorded during the 2010 FIFA World Cup process and we learned of this incident with great sadness. We know the safety of all workers has always been paramount for all the construction companies contracted to build the 10 World Cup stadiums. The incident in Polokwane today highlights, however, the dangers associated with constructing these world-class stadia under very difficult conditions."

Ambassadors
World Cup ambassadors Doctor Khumalo, Mark Fish, and Phil Masinga attended the celebrations, along with former Bafana Bafana player, Shaun Bartlett. Each one gave an account of their most memorable Soccer City moments in their playing careers.

The crowd gave a warm welcome to football icons Doc Khumalo and Shaun Bartlett

Masinga remembered the historic goal he scored in a 1998 World Cup qualifier against Democratic Republic of Congo. Khumalo, on the other hand, jokingly recalled all the matches he played for Kaizer Chiefs against Orlando Pirates.

"I will cherish all the moments when we hammered Pirates at this stadium. But I also remember the matches that we played against Brazil and Nigeria," he said.

To calls of "Fish! Fish!" from the workers, Fish took to the stand, lifting his arms and crossing them in a trademark Orlando Pirates gesture.

"My best memories are when you guys came up in numbers to the FNB Stadium to support us when we played for the national team. If you can just keep up that spirit and support the current crop of national team players we will definitely go somewhere," he said.

Bartlett said his best memory was his goal against Orlando Pirates in the last derby played at the stadium.

One of the workers, Kleinbooi Sikalakalane, a qualified plumber, said he was looking forward to watching the World Cup at the stadium. "I hope FIFA will accept Jordaan's proposition that we watch the World Cup matches. It would be nice to be here when the stadium is complete and watch Bafana Bafana play," he said.

Sikalakalane said the stadium was within walking distance of Diepkloof, Soweto. "I will even walk to the stadium if I get a ticket."