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The grinning faces of football fans, kitted
out in expressive makarabas, welcome visitors to the upgraded Dobsonville
Stadium.
ON entering the newly refurbished
Dobsonville Stadium, you are greeted by the smiling faces of football fans.
Something the fans can relate to, says Roelien Brink
The welcoming grins are billboard murals
placed near the stadium's entrances, the work of Roelien Brink and Michael
Souter. Brink, a fine artist, said the murals were strategically placed to
tantalise fans setting foot in the venue.
"I wanted to give fans something that they
can relate to," she said. To make the murals, she digitally transformed
miniature designs by Souter, a graphic designer.
The men in the murals are typical football
fanatics, wearing makarabas, those mining and construction hard hats that have
been developed into expressive football-fan outfits. And they are seen enjoying
a game.
Fans of the three Soweto football giants - Kaizer Chiefs,
Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates - make up the paintings, along with fans of
one of the most successful teams in the Premier Soccer League, Mamelodi
Sundowns.
The artworks reflect a style about which
Souter is passionate, as he is in the business of designing and selling
makarabas. Before designing his work, he visited football stadiums to map out
what he wanted to do.
"Every single person who comes to the
Dobsonville Stadium will relate to the makarabas, which are authentic to South Africa,"
said Brink, who has been contracted by the City to improve its public mural
artwork.
"The murals will also encourage fans to be
excited about the game and participate in the stadium."
Murals by Barney Nkosi
Artwork on the stadium's outer wall has
also been restored. The murals, crafted by Barney Nkosi, depict various sports.
Dobsonville Stadium
The refurbished Dobsonville Stadium will be used as one of three Johannesburg training
venues during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Able to seat 24 000, it underwent a R69-million
facelift to prepare for the football championship.
Though reconstruction was completed last
year, work is still being done to improve the precinct around it.
Besides hosting football matches, the
stadium, once the home ground of Swallows, will also be used for other
athletics events. Premier Soccer League and First Division matches would be
played at it, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo said in 2008.
The artwork in the stadium formed an
integral part of gearing it up for the World Cup, said Eric Itzkin, the deputy
director of immovable heritage in the City's arts and culture department.
"There are strict FIFA rules about
advertisements. We played it safe and did not put [up] any adverts," he said.
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