All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
World soccer governing body Fifa's technical committee arrive in Polokwane today to assess the city's progress in preparing for the 2010 World Cup.
Alexander Klosterkemper, Fifa's head of senior events execution, and his delegation will inspect the construction of the new Peter Mokaba Sports Complex.
Also accompanying the Fifa delegation on their inland inspection tour are representatives of the Local Organising Committee.
The building of the 46000-seater stadium, which is opposite the existing Peter Mokaba Stadium, started in March last year.
It will be completed by March 31 next year. The new stadium will host four first-round matches of the World Cup.
The delegation will also be given an update on the progress of the road infrastructure, marketing and communication, information technology and broadcasting.
Irvin Khoza, LOC chairman, said they were delighted with the progress of the two global competitions - the Confederations Cup and World Cup - in all the host cities of South Africa.
He urged South Africans to unite to ensure that the two tournaments, which will be held in Africa for the first time, become a roaring success.
"We are ready for the Fifa delegation, the tremendous progress that we have made in the city is there for everyone to see," said Nakedi Lekota, Safa Limpopo chief.
"We [Safa Limpopo] wanted the inspection tour to coincide with the 2010 World Cup business summit. The summit is now taking place on Thursday [tomorrow]."
Lekota said Danny Jordaan, the LOC chief executive, would address the business summit in Polokwane. Also attending the summit would be Sello Moloto, the Limpopo premier.
The Fifa technical committee arrived in the country last weekend, where they also had a meeting with the top brass of the LOC.
Tomorrow they will be in Mpumalanga for an update on the construction of Mbombela Stadium and other projects of the tournament. Just like Peter Mokaba, Mbombela will host four World Cup first-round games.
On Friday the delegation travels to Mangaung to inspect the Free State Stadium.
They started their inspection at Ellis Park Stadium, the Confederations Cup venue that will also host seven World Cup games, on Monday morning.
Later in the afternoon the delegation was in the nearby city of Tshwane to inspect Loftus Stadium, which will host the Confederations Cup and six World Cup games.
Yesterday, they were in Rustenburg for an inspection of the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng, also a Confederations Cup venue.
Royal Bafokeng will host five World Cup matches.
Envoys push on
All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
All reports by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
World soccer governing body Fifa's technical committee arrive in Polokwane today to assess the city's progress in preparing for the 2010 World Cup.
Alexander Klosterkemper, Fifa's head of senior events execution, and his delegation will inspect the construction of the new Peter Mokaba Sports Complex.
Also accompanying the Fifa delegation on their inland inspection tour are representatives of the Local Organising Committee.
The building of the 46000-seater stadium, which is opposite the existing Peter Mokaba Stadium, started in March last year.
It will be completed by March 31 next year. The new stadium will host four first-round matches of the World Cup.
The delegation will also be given an update on the progress of the road infrastructure, marketing and communication, information technology and broadcasting.
Irvin Khoza, LOC chairman, said they were delighted with the progress of the two global competitions - the Confederations Cup and World Cup - in all the host cities of South Africa.
He urged South Africans to unite to ensure that the two tournaments, which will be held in Africa for the first time, become a roaring success.
"We are ready for the Fifa delegation, the tremendous progress that we have made in the city is there for everyone to see," said Nakedi Lekota, Safa Limpopo chief.
"We [Safa Limpopo] wanted the inspection tour to coincide with the 2010 World Cup business summit. The summit is now taking place on Thursday [tomorrow]."
Lekota said Danny Jordaan, the LOC chief executive, would address the business summit in Polokwane. Also attending the summit would be Sello Moloto, the Limpopo premier.
The Fifa technical committee arrived in the country last weekend, where they also had a meeting with the top brass of the LOC.
Tomorrow they will be in Mpumalanga for an update on the construction of Mbombela Stadium and other projects of the tournament. Just like Peter Mokaba, Mbombela will host four World Cup first-round games.
On Friday the delegation travels to Mangaung to inspect the Free State Stadium.
They started their inspection at Ellis Park Stadium, the Confederations Cup venue that will also host seven World Cup games, on Monday morning.
Later in the afternoon the delegation was in the nearby city of Tshwane to inspect Loftus Stadium, which will host the Confederations Cup and six World Cup games.
Yesterday, they were in Rustenburg for an inspection of the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng, also a Confederations Cup venue.
Royal Bafokeng will host five World Cup matches.