Peter Mokaba Stadium upgrade for the FIFA World Cup 2010

The Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane is one of five venues South Africa is building from scratch for FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Quick Facts:

Construction Costs: R716 million
Completion Date: July 2009
Seats: 46000
Interestng Fact: The stadium hs a bushveld theme - the four corner columns supporting the roof and represent baobab trees.

The other four are: Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town; Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga province; Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape; and King Senzangakhona Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Peter Mokaba Stadium, set to be complete by March 2009, will have 5 000 seats for the media, two lounges and more than 5 000 VIP seats. In addition to the structural work, the Peter Mokaba stadium will be provided with first rate equipment, including an electronic scoreboard in the northern stand, new floodlights, sound system and a fire detection and protection system.

Project manager Tebogo Nchapha said the 45 000-seat stadium - which will host five matches in the 2010 Soccer World Cup - would produce major economic spin-offs for the province.

Polokwane frequently hosts top international athletes at its world-class facilities.

The city has also hosted the:

- World Shooting Championships
- South Africa National Indigenous Games
- Engen International Athletic Series from 2002 to 2004
- Absa National Athletics Series.

(Source: www.southafrica.info)

Further reading:
www.fifa.com