Nelspruit bids for 2010 matches
Sizwe samaYende
13 September 2005
An in-depth survey is to be conducted to ensure Nelspruit can provide efficient transport for soccer fans should the Mpumalanga capital host 2010 soccer World Cup matches.
The World Cup will be staged at eight stadiums across South Africa. Rural provinces such as Mpumalanga and Limpopo are competing to be appointed as hosts before they build world-class sporting facilities.
Mpumalanga's bid proposes a R335-million stadium in Nelspruit.
The Mbombela local municipality will ask businesses and the public to participate in the survey.
"We really need to rearrange our transport plans to show our seriousness about hosting the World Cup," says municipal spokesperson Lawrence Siwela.
Neighbouring countries Mozambique and Swaziland, a mere 100km drive from Nelspruit, have formally pledged their support for Mpumalanga's bid, as they believe it will boost sport and tourism in the region.
The Mpumalanga Gaming Board recently
announced that it would award the province's fourth and final casino licence to coincide with the World Cup.
Mbombela municipality has already pledged R1.8-million for traffic and precinct plans.
The local Mdluli clan has pledged their community-owned land near Hall's Gateway for the site of the
40 000-seat stadium, after regaining ownership of the land through a restitution claim.
If the Mdluli site - prime agricultural land - is not suitable, the stadium will be built at the Riverside precinct.
The precinct is home to Mpumalanga's R680-million government complex, with the city's only public art galleries, as well as the Lowveld botanical garden, hotels, a casino, snake park, Lowveld Show and Expo Centre, and various lifestyle retail centres.
The other cities of rural provinces bidding to host World Cup matches are Kimberley in the Northern Cape, Polokwane in Limpopo, and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.
Source: BuaNews
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