PEs historic rugby stadium bites the dust - 29/03/2006
PE’s historic but neglected rugby stadium is to be bulldozed, with all future matches set to be played at the new 2010 World Soccer Cup stadium in North End once it has been completed. The Eastern Province Rugby Union stadium, originally known as Boet Erasmus and later as Telkom Park, will be made available for development and should attract considerable interest because of its location. Nelson Mandela Bay communications head Roland Williams last night confirmed a report tabled by the National Assembly’s sports committee that rugby would be relocated from the existing EPRU stadium.
The Fifa local organising committee (LOC) for the 2010 World Cup has asked for a meeting with Cape Town mayor Helen Zille to defuse the controversy over Green Point stadium, said LOC chairman Irvin Khoza. We are confident that it will be resolved, he said. He said Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool had also been invited to the meeting, which it was hoped would take place in Cape Town on Friday morning, ahead of an LOC board meeting. The move follows Zilles decision this week to put planning for the R1.5bn stadium project on hold pending a report on the full financial implications for the city.
Rasool slams Zille on Green Point stadium plans - 29/03/2006
Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool has accused Cape Towns executive mayor Helen Zille of being irresponsible in the extreme by imposing a one-week moratorium on the appointment of consultants for 2010 World Cup projects and says he is to provide R10m from the provinces coffers to revive the planning phase. The provincial government will not allow this process to be derailed, he said.
Sport MEC supports freeze in Green Point stadium - 28/03/2006
Sport MEC Mzonke Whitey Jacobs has come out in support of the City of Cape Towns decision to halt progress on the proposed R1.28bn African Renaissance Stadium at Green Point pending a financial review. At its inaugural meeting, the new mayoral committee (Mayco) expressed serious concern about the project, saying the stadium, the citys proposed World Cup venue, was unaffordable as currently planned. The committee ordered a one-week moratorium on signing of new contracts while it looks closely at the financial details.
Zille puts Green Point stadium on hold - 28/03/2006
Executive mayor Helen Zille placed an immediate freeze on contract appointments for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, pending a comprehensive financial audit of Cape Towns capacity to host the event. And a much-needed R31m is being transferred from the citys capital budget to the ailing fire and rescue services. After hearing in the first open multi-party government (executive mayoral committee, mayco or MPG) meeting that the city would have to provide at least R1 billion - the total capital budget for 2006 - to build the new Green Point stadium, Zille said: Do we build this stadium or do we get essential services, like sewerage, to the poor?
People not quite so joyful about 2010 anymore - 28/03/2006
No ones jumping for joy yet, said the Fifa official reproachfully, when I bumped into him on a secret incognito visit to Cape Town over the weekend. In a column in the Cape Times, John Scott says: We did lots of jumping for joy when we first heard we would be hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup, after having recognised Max outside a Newlands hotel. But were not quite so joyful now that we know what weve got to put up with. Put up with! he exclaimed. Its the greatest sporting event in the world.
The deal signed by city manager Wallace Mgoqi for Cape Town to host the Soccer World Cup is to cost billions in the next three years with unforeseen returns and all the money made going to Fifa, according to newly elected mayoral committee member for corporate services and human resources, Belinda Walker. How much is it going to cost and can the city afford it? she said. A recent presentation by the national government indicated that funding would be divided among 10 stadiums, giving Cape Town a share of between R500m and R800m.
Green Point stadium too far from the football masses - 22/03/2006
Marten Fontein, the new boss of Dutch soccer giants Ajax Amsterdam, says Fifa has made a profound blunder by endorsing Green Point as Cape Towns match venue for the 2010 World Cup. Fontein and Martin van Geel, the clubs technical director, were in town for five days to run the rule over feeder club Ajax Cape Town. Fontein, a former cricketer who toured SA with the Dutch national team in 1980, argued that the proposed super stadium would not have the desired effect on the local game as it was based in an elite white area and too far from the football masses.
New Green Point stadium will be gift to city - 11/02/2006
The re-development of Green Point track into a world-class multi-purpose venue is being hailed as a lasting and impressive gift that will flow from the 2010 football World Cup to all the citizens of Cape Town. The announcement this week that a new stadium will be built on the Green Point common as one of the main venues for the World Cup drew both criticism and support.
The Mbombela Municipality and the SA Football Association (Safa) both in Mpumalanga say they are ready to construct a stadium to host some of the 2010 Soccer World Cup games. The 45 000 sitter stadium, estimated at R300m will be constructed at Mathafeni, just a few kilometres outside the city of Nelspruit, the capital of Mpumalanga.
Cape Towns multi-billion rand stadium still in doubt - 08/02/2006
Technical details for Cape Towns new multi-billion rand stadium in Green Point are yet to be finalised, and neither the exact location nor the exact costs of the stadium are known at this stage. Preliminary quantity surveying figures indicate that the stadium will cost a minimum of R1.2bn.
And then there were 10. The 10 SA stadiums for the 2010 World Cup were named in Parliament, including two surprise new stadiums for Durban and Cape Town. Danny Jordaan, CE of the Local World Cup Organising Committee, confirmed that both Cape Town and Durban will have new soccer stadiums for 2010.
New world-class soccer stadium for Durban - 07/02/2006
A new world-class soccer stadium will be built in Durban in preparation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The stadium is expected to cost about R1.6bn and will replace the existing Kings Park Soccer Stadium. Speaking in parliament in Cape Town on Monday, Deputy Sports Minister Gert Oosthuizen announced that the stadium would be one of five new venues built around the country.
Cape Town to get 70 000-seat domed stadium - 07/02/2006
Cape Town is to get a new 70 000-seat domed stadium in time for the 2010 World Cup on the site of the old Green Point track near the existing stadium. This development gives the Mother City a serious claim to host glamour ties in the latter stages of the World Cup.
Ellis Park to get R2bn facelift before 2010 - 07/12/2005
Greater Ellis Park is to receive a huge uplift before the 2010 World Cup. The area covers the suburbs of Ellis Park, Doornfontein, Bertrams, Bezuidenhout Valley, Troyeville, Judiths Paarl and Lorentzville. Called the Greater Ellis Park Development Area, the R2bn refurbishment includes large shopping areas, hotels, the renovation of historical buildings, improving the manufacturing area, construction of social and low-cost housing and the establishment of a gardening project for Aids orphans.
Chiefs plan to relocate to bigger, better stadium - 15/10/2005
Kaizer Chiefs are engaged in high-level talks with the Mogale City municipalty in a bid to relocate and acquire Krugersdorps Bob van Reenen Stadium as their new homeground. As a result, Chiefs have set aside R600m for the upgrading of their new venue in a move which will definitely change the landscape of SA soccer. The envisaged project, the biggest local venture in football circles ahead of the World Cup in 2010, will be a big boost for the soccer-mad West Rand community. The scheme is also set to create employment opportunities. The municipality confirmed that they were in discussions with Chiefs about leasing the stadium. The citys communication officer, Bongani Gaeje, said the R600m injection would see the stadiums seating capacity rise to 65 000 which would overshadow that of Ellis Park.
Blue Downs stadium in line for R450m upgrade - 17/09/2005
The SA Football Association (Safa) in the Western Cape has come up with a R450m project proposal to have the Blue Downs Sports Stadium upgraded into a new sports precinct that can seat 60 000 for the 2010 World Cup. The proposal which Safa says has been submitted to the relevant authorities and the city council is to include a new railway line project, all-weather dome stadium, football academy, a transport interchange and hotel accommodation,Western Cape Safa president Vernon Seymour said during a walkabout at the stadium.
New Green Point stadium will be gift to city - 11/02/2006
The re-development of Green Point track into a world-class multi-purpose venue is being hailed as a lasting and impressive gift that will flow from the 2010 football World Cup to all the citizens of Cape Town. According to a report on the IOL site, the announcement this week that a new stadium will be built on the Green Point common as one of the main venues for the World Cup drew both criticism and support. But as the news spread about the innovative plans and the renewal impact it is likely to have on the areas as well as inner city transport, support started to grow. The government defended its choice of the venue by disclosing that, even though it will be a prime venue for the 2010 World Cup matches, the continued use and impact of the venue on the city was what had ultimately convinced authorities to build it there.
