MORE than R30million will be spent on the upgrading of the Kimberley Stadium as part of preparations for the 2010 World Cup.
MORE than R30million will be spent on the upgrading of the Kimberley Stadium as part of preparations for the 2010 World Cup.
This is according to Sol Plaatje municipality mayor Patrick Everyday, who said the stadium was now officially named after the Griqualand West Corporation.
"We are refurbishing the stadium in line with the requirements of Fifa because it will be used for training by Uruguay during the World Cup," he said.
"The stadium will have a new pitch, which is the same as that to be used during the Cup. We will also be installing new floodlights.
"That will also make it possible for the stadium to accommodate all the events at night. This is a World Cup legacy project for the Sol Plaatje municipality.
"We are honoured that Uruguay have chosen Kimberley as their team base camp during the World Cup. It's a great honour for us considering we are not hosting any of the matches.
"We are working on this upgrading of the stadium with the Northern Cape provincial government and Local Organising Committee."
Everday said they had set up a strong team, including Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo, and had approached the federations of the World Cup teams, "with a view to luring them to set up base camps in Kimberley. Uruguay did not give us problems".
Asked if the stadium would not be a white elephant after the World Cup, Everyday said: "We have an agreement with Ajax Cape Town, who play some of their matches here in Kimberley. We are also trying to get First Division or Premiership status."
He said the municipality had already started upgrading Kimberley Airport.
R30m budget for Kimberley Stadium upgrade
MORE than R30million will be spent on the upgrading of the Kimberley Stadium as part of preparations for the 2010 World Cup.
MORE than R30million will be spent on the upgrading of the Kimberley Stadium as part of preparations for the 2010 World Cup.
This is according to Sol Plaatje municipality mayor Patrick Everyday, who said the stadium was now officially named after the Griqualand West Corporation.
"We are refurbishing the stadium in line with the requirements of Fifa because it will be used for training by Uruguay during the World Cup," he said.
"The stadium will have a new pitch, which is the same as that to be used during the Cup. We will also be installing new floodlights.
"That will also make it possible for the stadium to accommodate all the events at night. This is a World Cup legacy project for the Sol Plaatje municipality.
"We are honoured that Uruguay have chosen Kimberley as their team base camp during the World Cup. It's a great honour for us considering we are not hosting any of the matches.
"We are working on this upgrading of the stadium with the Northern Cape provincial government and Local Organising Committee."
Everday said they had set up a strong team, including Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo, and had approached the federations of the World Cup teams, "with a view to luring them to set up base camps in Kimberley. Uruguay did not give us problems".
Asked if the stadium would not be a white elephant after the World Cup, Everyday said: "We have an agreement with Ajax Cape Town, who play some of their matches here in Kimberley. We are also trying to get First Division or Premiership status."
He said the municipality had already started upgrading Kimberley Airport.