All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
The Mpumalanga provincial government is highly impressed with the progress made in the construction of the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
This was after an inspection last week of the site of the sports complex, which will be one of the 10 match venues for the 2010 World Cup.
Also present during the tour were Local Organising Committee chairman Irvin Khoza and chief executive Danny Jordaan.
The process of building a world-class three-tier stadium began early this year and is expected to be completed by March 2009.
The stadium is being built by Lefika Group, a black economic empowerment company where Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung is a co-director.
"We were not aware that the LOC would be here, but we did not panic because the process of building one of the best facilities in the world is on track," said Motaung.
Jabu Mahlangu, Mpumalanga MEC for sports and culture, said: "We are delighted with the progress of the construction of the stadium.
"Members of the Local Organising Committee were all happy with the work done on site to date.
"Everybody is hard at work, we are confident that we will be able to deliver a world-class stadium that all South Africans will be proud off."
Mahlangu's department has roped representatives of the Mozambique and Swaziland governments into their technical team preparing for the World Cup.
The two countries have also formed committees dealing with issues like tourism, fan parks and setting up a training base for visiting teams.
The stadium will become the property of the Mbombela Local Municipality, which plans to lure some of the top soccer clubs in the country to use it for their home matches.
Justice Nsibande, the proud executive mayor of Mbombela, is adamant that Mbombela Stadium, which will accommodate 46 000 people, will not become a white elephant after 2010.
lramatsiyi@sowetan.co.za
Mbombela Stadium fast taking shape
All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
The Mpumalanga provincial government is highly impressed with the progress made in the construction of the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
This was after an inspection last week of the site of the sports complex, which will be one of the 10 match venues for the 2010 World Cup.
Also present during the tour were Local Organising Committee chairman Irvin Khoza and chief executive Danny Jordaan.
The process of building a world-class three-tier stadium began early this year and is expected to be completed by March 2009.
The stadium is being built by Lefika Group, a black economic empowerment company where Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung is a co-director.
"We were not aware that the LOC would be here, but we did not panic because the process of building one of the best facilities in the world is on track," said Motaung.
Jabu Mahlangu, Mpumalanga MEC for sports and culture, said: "We are delighted with the progress of the construction of the stadium.
"Members of the Local Organising Committee were all happy with the work done on site to date.
"Everybody is hard at work, we are confident that we will be able to deliver a world-class stadium that all South Africans will be proud off."
Mahlangu's department has roped representatives of the Mozambique and Swaziland governments into their technical team preparing for the World Cup.
The two countries have also formed committees dealing with issues like tourism, fan parks and setting up a training base for visiting teams.
The stadium will become the property of the Mbombela Local Municipality, which plans to lure some of the top soccer clubs in the country to use it for their home matches.
Justice Nsibande, the proud executive mayor of Mbombela, is adamant that Mbombela Stadium, which will accommodate 46 000 people, will not become a white elephant after 2010.
lramatsiyi@sowetan.co.za