2010 SOCCER STADIUMS: CAPE TOWN STADIUM

The Stadium is situated in Green Point and has a capacity of 68 000. The roof has glass panels to cover and protect spectators from strong winds and rain, but still letting in light and soften the noise from within. The stadium is designed such that all spectators have a view of the game and the stadium can be evacuated within 15 minutes if needed. Police will have state of the art surveillance cameras to protect spectators and a Police Station within the Stadium to deal with any serious matters.

The Stadium can be found on coordinates 33⁰54'13.69"S and 18⁰24'33.93"E.

Key Matches and Dates:

• 11 June 2010- 20:30 Opening Match Group A Uruguay v France
• 14 June 2010- 20:30 Group F Italy v Paraguay
• 18 June 2010- 20:30 Group C England v Algeria
• 21 June 2010- 13:30 Group G Portugal v Korea DPR
• 24 June 2010- 20:30 Group E Cameroon v Netherlands
• 29 June 2010- 20:30 Round of 16
• 03 July 2010- 16:00 Quarter-final
• 06 July 2010- 20:30 Semi-final

2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP STADIUMS: PETER MOKABA STADIUM: POLOKWANE

A new Stadium in Polokwane (Pietersburg) in the Limpopo Province with a capacity of 46 000 and can be found on coordinates 23⁰55'09.64"S and 29⁰27'49.06"E.

Key Matches and Dates:

• 13 June 2010- 13:30 Group C Algeria v Slovenia
• 17 June 2010- 20:30 Group A France v Mexico
• 22 June 2010- 20:30 Group B Greece v Argentinia
• 24 June 2010- 16:00 Group F Paraguay v New Zealand

Distances to other Stadiums:

Pretoria- 300km

Johannesburg- 365km

Rustenburg- +- 430km

reBlog from Anton Viljoen: 2010 Soccer Accommodation

I found this fascinating quote today:

Ok, the final draw has been done. A huge party bash, leaving Long Street way to short for all the Soccer Fans, saw the whole ceremony for the final draw!! The 32 qualifying countries were drawn in the various groups as follow:Anton Viljoen, 2010 Soccer Accommodation, Dec 2009

You should read the whole article.

2010 SOCCER STADIUMS: LOFTUS VERSFELD

Loftus Versfeld, one of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Stadiums, is one of the oldest stadiums and situated in Tshwane/ Pretoria, 5km from the city centre. The first concrete structure was built in 1923 and could accommodate 2,000 spectators at that time. It has undergone several major upgrades since 1948 and today is used for both rugby and football matches, and can accommodate 50,000 spectators.

Of course, Loftus is home to one of the Country's best rugby teams-The Blue Bulls- and also home to Soccer teams Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United.

The 1995 Rugby World Cup was played here as well as the 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations. And that's not all!! Bafana Bafana had their first ever victory over a European side at Loftus Versfeld as well- SA 1-0 Sweden!!!

The Games to be played at Loftus:

• 13 June- 16:00 Group D Serbia vs Ghana

• 16 June- 20:30 Group A South Africa vs Uruguay

• 19 June- 20:30 Group E Cameroon vs Denmark

• 23 June-16:00 Group C USA vs Algeria

• 25 June-20:30 Group H Chile vs Spain

• 29 June-16:00 Round of 16

Be sure to watch one of the games at Loftus Versfeld to experience the greatness of this stadium!!

2010 SOCCER: MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM: DURBAN

The Stadium is in Durban, adjacent to the ABSA Stadium, in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct, and the Durban street circuit used for the A1GP World Cup of motorsport. The Stadium will have a capacity of 70,000 during the World Cup and 54,000 afterwards. Capacity could also be increased to 80,000 for events like the Olympics. The Stadium will have 150 corporate hospitality suites with 7,500 seats. The Arch over the Stadium, on the Northern-side, 350m long and 105m high will hold up the roof of the Stadium. The nice part of the Arch is that one could travel to the top in a funicular (something similar to a cable car), carrying 25 people at a time, and have a few good drinks whilst enjoying the spectacular view over the City and the sea- 100 people could be accommodated at any given time. Of course the more athletic could climb the 550-steps on the southern-side of the Stadium and also have a few cold drinks (much needed then) and enjoy the views- just hope there will be place up there! A 46,000 square metres, Teflon-coated, glass-fibre membrane forms the roof, which will produce a translucent glow when the Stadium is lit. Seating inside the Stadium is also awesome, as the seats are colour- coded, depicting the sea, sky and vegetation in the province.

Watching any soccer game or other event at this Stadium will definitely be an experience never to be forgotten!! Be sure to have at least one ticket to watch a game at this Stadium next Winter!!!

Games to be played at the Stadium:

• 13 June-20:30 Group D Germany v Australia
• 16 June-16:00 Group H Spain v Switzerland
• 19 June-13:30 Group E Netherlands v Japan
• 22 June-20:30 Group B Nigeria v Korea R
• 25 June-16:00 Group G Portugal v Brazil
• 28 June-16:00 Round of 16
• 07 July-20:30 Semi Final
  

Sources: Google Search: Moses Mabhida Stadium City Press Sport dated 29 November 2009

OFFICIAL 2010 MATCH BALL

Meet Jabulani!! The soccer ball was developed by Adidas, and Jabulani (an IsiZulu word) means 'to celebrate'. A very appropriate name taking that it is Africa's very first time to host the Soccer World Cup. Also very appropriately is the 11 colours used in the design, representing the 11th Adidas World Cup ball, the 11 players in each team, the 11 official South African languages and the 11 South African Communities. South Africa's colourfulness is also neatly captured in the design. The inner carcass is enveloped by eight 3-D spherically formed panels, all new technology of course- giving perfect roundness and energy to the ball. Further technology called 'Grip'n'Groove' gives the ball very stable flight and perfect grip and good control ability by players under all weather conditions. Players like Kaká, Michael Ballack, Petr Cech and Frank Lampard whom have played with the ball already, all had very high remarks about the ball and it's control ability. I am sure that Bafana Bafana will also benefit greatly from Jabulani and make South Africa proud!!

Be sure to book your accommodation timely so that you do not miss-out on all the action!!!!

Greetings until the next Blog.


Sources: FIFA Website Google Search The Star Shoot published 11 December 2009

2010 Soccer World Cup: Final Draw and Match Schedule

Ok, the final draw has been done. A huge party bash, leaving Long Street way to short for all the Soccer Fans, saw the whole ceremony for the final draw!! The 32 qualifying countries were drawn in the various groups as follow:

Group A

South Africa Mexico Uruguay France

Group B

Argentinia Nigeria South Corea Greece

Group C

England America Algeria Slovania

Group D

Germany Australia Serbia Ghana

Group E

Netherlands Denmark Japan Cameroon

Group F

Italy Paraguay New Zealand Slovakia

Group G

Brazil North Korea Ivory Coast Portugal

Group H

Spain Switzerland Honduras Chile

After the draw, the match schedule for the Round of Sixteen Matches was also done. The opening match at Soccer City will be South Arica against Mexico, and in Cape Town Uruguay against France.

Group A	Group B
11 June Soccer City JHB A1 vs A2	12 June JHB Ellispark B1 vs B2
11 June Cape Town A3 vs A4	12 June Port Elizabeth B3 vs B4
16 June Pretoria A1 vs A3	17 June Bloemfontein B1 vs B3
17 June Polokwane A4 vs A2	17 June Soccer City JHB B4 vs B2
22 June Rustenburg A2 vs A3	22 June Durban B2 vs B3
22 June Bloemfontein A4 vs A1	22 June Polokwane B4 vs B1

Group C	Group D
12 June Rustenburg C1 vs C2	13 June Durban D1 vs D2
13 June Polokwane C3 vs C4	13 June Pretoria D3 vs D4
18 June Cape Town C1 vs C3	18 June Port Elizabeth D1 vs D3
18 June JHB Ellispark C4 vs C2	19 June Rustenburg D4 vs D2
23 June Pretoria C2 vs C3	23 June Nelspruit D2 vs D3
23 June Port Elizabeth C4 vs C1	23 June JHB Soccer City D4 vs D1

Group E	Group F
14 June JHB Soccer City E1 vs E2	14 June Cape Town F1 vs F2
14 June Bloemfontein E3 vs E4	15 June Rustenburg F3 vs F4
19 June Durban E1 vs E3	20 June Nelspruit F1 vs F3
19 June Pretoria E4 vs E2	20 June Bloemfontein F4 vs F2
24 June Rustenburg E2 vs E3	24 June Polokwane F2 vs F3
24 June Cape Town E4 vs E1	24 June JHB Ellispark F4 vs F1

Group G	Group H
15 June JHB Ellispark G1 vs G2	16 June Durban H1 vs H2
15 June Port Elizabeth G3 vs G4	16 June Nelspruit H3 vs H4
20 June JHB Soccer City G1 vs G3	21 June JHB Ellispark H1 vs H3
21 June Cape Town G4 vs G2	21 June Port Elizabeth H4 vs H2
25 June Nelspruit G2 vs G3	25 June Bloemfontein H2 vs H3
25 June Durban G4 vs G1	25 June Pretoria H4 vs H1

Sources: FIFA.com Die Beeld Google Search

Qualifying Countries from Oceana and South America

Only one Ociana Country qualified, and that is:


New- Zealand

South American Countries who qualified includes:

Argentina Brazil Chili


Paraguay Uruguay


That's it!!! The 32 Countries who qualified for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

As already said, the next date on the countdown calendar is the 04th December 2009 when the final draw of the teams will be done. Everybody is waiting for this date as the airlines will open their flight schedules just after the final draw.

Once that happens, flight tickets will be bought and with that the search for accommodation will be done as well. Early Birds will get the best accommodation of course, so, don't be late as you might find yourself without a place to stay!!!!

You can book accommodation on www.nextlevelgroup.co.za and look at more accommodation at www.vinelioproperties.co.za, which accommodation can also be booked on Next Level Group's website.

Whatever you do, don't be late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

North and Central America Soccer Qualifiers

Countries from North and Central America who qualified for 2010 include:

America Honduras Mexico

Interesting is that Honduras last qualified for a World Cup in 1982, yet they are currently ranked at 35!!