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We
already had the opening and final matches; now we know what other games we will
host, and an idea of which fans to welcome.
JOHANNESBURG
is optimistic of staging a memorable 2010 FIFA World Cup™, with the City
hosting a total of 15 matches - including the opening and final ones.
Joburg is ready, says executive mayor Amos Masondo (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
It
is ready with a warm welcome for all football fans - and now the locals know
just who to expect when, following the spectacular World Cup draw on Friday, 4
December in Cape Town.
Speaking
after the draw, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo said the City was geared up for
the event.
"We
have always said that Joburg's approach during the World Cup is two pronged. We
want the pressure that comes with 2010 to strengthen our city in terms of
building our economy, but we also want to see legacy projects that will last
beyond 2010 and benefit people for years to come."
He
added that it was ready to host the thousands of visitors expected in 2010. "There
is no doubt that we could surpass the expectation for tourism. Everyone is
looking to South Africa for this great sporting spectacle and we do not only
expect huge numbers of people from Europe and South America, but also from
Africa."
Masondo
was accompanied in Cape Town by his wife, Khosi; the executive director: 2010,
Sibongile Mazibuko; and the member of the mayoral committee for community
development, Bafana Sithole.
On
TV
Back in Johannesburg, residents were able to watch the final draw live on giant
screens at nine MTN-eKasi Township TV sites. At Diepkloof Park in Soweto, a
crowd had gathered to witness the draw at 7pm. However, a huge storm sent
people scattering.
Before
the draw started, an avid Bafana Bafana fan, Nkateko Khoza, from Diepkloof
Extension 2, said he was hopeful his team would get a good draw. But he was
optimistic whatever the outcome: "Even if we are drawn against teams like
Brazil, we will pull through," he said.
Besides
the high-profile delegation, the City also set up a cutting edge exhibition
stand at the Cape Town International Conference Centre, venue of the draw. Colourful
and vibrant, there were touch screens and a giant screen beaming information
and videos of what Joburg had to offer fans and visitors, said Gaynor
Mashamaite-Noyce, the City's public liaison officer who was manning the stand.
The Soccer City pitch is about to become a global landmark
"The
stand attracted thousands of media visitors and VIP guests looking for
information on Johannesburg ahead of the World Cup."
Visitors
Visitors included hundreds of international broadcast media who will be staying
in Johannesburg in 2010. Sports celebrities like Makhaya Ntini and Bafana
Bafana defender Matthew Booth were also interested in what Joburg had to offer.
On
Saturday after the draw, Masondo joined FIFA officials at the official opening
of the Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha township, in Cape Town. It is
the first of five centres that will open up in South Africa before the World
Cup. One centre will open during the tournament, in Alexandra township, in Joburg's
north.
A
new phase of ticket sales also started on 5 December and will run until 22
January 2010. This is most important phase because football fans now know when
and where their teams will be playing and which teams they are up against.
According
to FIFA, in the first 24 hours of the ticket sales opening on Saturday,
football fans applied for 157 000 tickets.
Joburg
matches
Johannesburg's two host stadiums, Soccer City and Ellis Park, will host 15 of
the 64 matches of the competition, which kicks off on 11 June 2010; 10 of the
15 matches will be in the group stages.
Over
and above the group matches, the 88 000-seat Soccer City will host one
match in Round 16, one quarterfinal and the final match. Ellis Park, on the other
hand, will host one match in Round 16 and a quarterfinal.
Reacting
to Bafana Bafana's draw against Mexico in the opening match and their group
featuring European giants France and South American heavyweights Uruguay,
Masondo said Bafana Bafana would have to work very hard to get through to the
next round.
"The
team needs the unwavering support of every single South African."
Group
stage matches to be played in Johannesburg:
South
Africa vs Mexico
Soccer City
11 June 2010
Argentina
vs Nigeria
Ellis Park
12 June 2010
Netherlands
vs Denmark
Soccer City
14 June 2010
Brazil
vs Korea DPR
Ellis Park
15 June 2010
Argentina
vs Korea Republic
Soccer City
17 June 2010
US
vs Slovenia
Ellis Park
18 June 2010
Spain
vs Honduras
Ellis Park
21 June 2010
Brazil
vs Ivory Coast
Soccer City
23 June 2010
Germany
vs Ghana
Soccer City
23 June 2010
Italy
vs Slovakia
Ellis Park
24 June 2010
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