2010 - Cheers for 2010 workers

Cheers for 2010 workers

Written by Ndaba Dlamini

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Joburg football lovers are counting down the days, 500 to be exact. As the FIFA World Cup approaches, fans, organisers and workers survey the City's world-class stadiums and they all agree, "Viva 2010!".

Countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup kick-off

THE blare of vuvuzelas and shouts of "Joburg is ready!" from Joburg United fans punctuated the popular song "Shosholoza" as three open-deck buses wound through the streets of Joburg in celebration of 500 days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Excited Joburg United fans on the way to Soccer City

The din and the colourfully clad fans attracted much hype from the Braamfontein office workers and students hurrying to their morning lectures on Monday, 26 January.

A few people had a chance to give the three buses either an Orlando Pirates or a Kaizer Chiefs salute whilst many paused to gape at the passing spectacle.

"Viva 2010!" shouted one passerby at the busses.

The day started off a bit chilly at the Metro Centre buildings in Braamfontein where more than 400 Joburg United fans, an ambitious campaign launched on 5 April 2008 by the City to sign one million fans by 2010, gathered to go on tour of 2010 facilities in the City.

Among the fans were the City's 2010 director Linda Ngwenya; soccer legends including McDonald "Rhee" Skhosana and Phil Venter; councillors and City of Johannesburg staff.

From Braamfontein, the buses, which had been joined by a number of private cars, almost brought the traffic on the M1 south to a standstill. Most drivers on the M1 north, however, gave the revellers encouragement by hooting.

Soccer City
The first stop was Soccer City Stadium in Nasrec. Like the scenes on the way to the stadium, workers at Soccer City paused doing their work and cheers went off around the site.

Slideshow
For a slideshow of the celebrations, click here

The colossal 94 000 seat stadium is 68 percent complete and work is expected to be complete by October 2009. The roof is 90 percent complete and the planting of grass seeds is expected to begin in February this year.

Soccer City will host the opening ceremony and both the opening and final matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium and its surrounds are undergoing major refurbishments for the soccer spectacular.

"We are on schedule and the stadium is going to be complete well before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off. We are also currently installing lights right round the stadium," said Brian Carter contracts manager at Soccer City.

Besides soccer, Carter said the stadium could also be used for rugby.

Apart from the roof, work is also going on earnestly around the stadium. Seats are being installed and the new suites and change rooms are being built.

Orlando Stadium
After a brief tour of the stadium, it was off to Orlando Stadium in Orlando East, Soweto.

Located along Mooki Street, the stadium is complete with only the surrounds left to be spruced up.

The 40 000 seat stadium was officially opened by the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg Amos Masondo on 23 November 2008. The ceremony saw thousands of people attend the first match to be played on the new turf between Orlando Pirates and Thanda Royal Zulu Football Club.

Sid Clarke, the City's director of project management, updated the fans on the progress of work at the stadium.

"The stadium is complete and meets all FIFA requirements and all that remains is for people to use it. It's going to be used as a training venue for both the FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup," he said.

Orlando Stadium, described as a world class facility, was built from scratch at a cost of R240-million. The new stadium boasts 120 suites that can be turned into hospitality venues, conference facilities, meeting rooms, a gymnasium, a fan shop and offices. In addition, it has two VIP and one VVIP suites, a 200-seat auditorium and 60 concession kiosks.

Clarke said since the stadium staged some PSL matches in November, it will not be used again until the Confederations Cup. He said the rest period will allow the grass to settle for the Festival of Champions.

Asked by one of the Joburg United Fans about the problem of parking experienced during the official opening, Clarke said space is being created around the stadium for parking.

He added that Mooki Street is being widened and will accommodate four Bus Rapid Transit stations.

"Also in terms of safety, the stadium meets all requirements. A perimeter wall is being built and there will be lights all round the stadium to ensure people's safety during night games," said Clarke.

Dobsonville and Rand stadiums
From Orlando Stadium, it was off to Dobsonville Stadium, another training venue for the 2010 World Cup. The stadium is located deep in Dobsonville township, also in Soweto.

Fans only had a chance to see a glimpse of the stadium from outside as the three buses drove round the stadium.

A look inside Soccer City

However, like Orlando Stadium, Dobsonville Stadium is complete and is currently being spruced up on the outside. Refurbishments to the 24 000 seat stadium were done to the tune of R69-million.

As the three buses made their way towards the Rand Stadium in Pioneer Park, south of Johannesburg, residents of Soweto also had a chance to witness the cheering Joburg United fans. School children couldn't resist the temptation to run alongside the busses shouting "2010, 2010!"

At the Rand Stadium, fans only had a peek of the 24 000 seat stadium. Work on the refurbishment of the stadium is complete and only beautifying the surrounds and construction of parking bays outside the stadium is left.

Like Orlando and Dobsonville stadiums, Rand Stadium will be used as a training venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Ellis Park Stadium
Then it was off to Doornfontein where Ellis Park Stadium, venue for the opening ceremony and the final match of the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009.

At the stadium, acting stadium manager Paul Appalsamy said a lot of work has been done to make sure Ellis Park meets all FIFA requirements.

"The stadium was originally designed to cater largely for a male rugby audience. A lot of work has been done to build more female ablution facilities with most of the work being done on the north stand where 4 500 seats have been added," he said.

The 62 400 seat stadium has a new façade on the north side. A new public medical facility has been added and five levels of parking to accommodate 1 100 cars has been built.

"Work at the stadium is complete and Ellis Park will be ready to host the Confederations Cup in June," said Appalsamy to cheers from the fans.

Ngwenya said the celebrations will culminate in the unveiling to City residents of the 2010 Host City Poster at a soccer legends dinner at the Council Chambers in Braamfontein on Tuesday, 27 January.

The nine host cities officially unveiled their host city posters in Bloemfontein on Monday, 26 January, as part of the 500 days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. At the ceremony, 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee (OC) chairman Irvin Khoza said the day was a celebration of the "substantial progress [the OC] have made".

"I would like to thank each and every Host City for the magnificent work they are doing, in particular I would like to pay tribute to the tens of thousands of men and women around the country who are tirelessly striving to make this event a reality," he said.

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10 things to do in Jozi today

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