Polokwane - Polokwane is pulling out all the stops to ensure that its residents benefit from the first African World Cup long after the tournament has ended. And the locals are doing their bid to ensure that the city does not only emerge as good hosts but delivers a world class football spectacle that will leave a lasting legacy.
Polokwane will welcome at least eight teams who will battle it out at the newly built Peter Mokaba Stadium.
"We are doing our best and we want to use these legacy projects to position our city as a destination of choice for the visitors and tourists long after 2010," said the City of Polokwane Mayor Thabo Mankunyane.
"We have made sure that road infrastructure, transport and facilities for the fans are all attended to so that the people of Limpopo can be part of the World Cup," Mankunyane said during Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe's visit to various legacy projects in the city on Saturday.
At least 16 road projects have been constructed in the past two years linking the stadium to the airport and other tourist attraction sites around the city centre.
Mankunyane further said officials were satisfied with the province's transport operational plans and that contingency plans will be in place to minimise traffic congestion in the inner city due to the Fan Park situated in the proximity of the stadium.
The Fan Park, situated at the Polokwane Cricket Club grounds has the capacity to host 30 000 soccer fans. FIFA introduced the idea of Fan Parks to allow soccer supporters, who may not have the opportunity to watch the matches at stadiums, to enjoy the tournament on a mega screen while at the same time enjoy an action packed public viewing experience. The Fan Parks are expected to attract more than a million visitors to South Africa for the World Cup.
Limpopo is a vast province and as such Mankunyane said about 130 buses and 230 taxis will be available to ferry people from various parts of the province to the stadium and Fan Park.
"One thing this World Cup has given us is an opportunity to turn our city and province around and we have made many improvements in that regard," Mankunyane said.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister, Makhenkesi Stofile, called on local sporting federations and the business sector to ensure that Peter Mokaba Stadium is maintained and remains viable after the World Cup.
"I call on them to come here and open their offices because operating from here will ensure that the stadium is maintained," Stofile said. The 46000 capacity stadium is expected to be handed over to FIFA on Monday.
