Buffalo takes pointers on 2010
By Tabisa Mntengwana
28 August 2009
AS part of its 2010 game plan to ensure an exciting few weeks over the football World Cup, City officials took time out to learn more about what needs to be done in Buffalo City.
A study visit to Safa House at Nasrec, in Johannesburg on Thursday, 27 August, played a major role in the City’s aspiration to benefit from the football tournament.
The municipal director for executive services support, Vuyo Zambodla, said: “Buffalo City aspires to be a team base camp for the World Cup and the visit will give the city more insight on how to go about attracting countries to use the City as their base camp.”
FIFA, the world soccer body, has approved two stadiums in Buffalo City for use as training venues - Absa Stadium and Gompo Stadium - to use if the city is chosen to be a team base camp.
The municipality has already started revamping and upgrading the Absa Stadium to meet the requirements for a team base camp. Talking about these, Derek Blanckensee, the chief competitions officer in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, said: “The most important thing that should be remembered and made priority is the turf since most coaches look at that when selecting a training venue.”
He added that the City needed to work hard to achieve its goals.
Blanckensee also advised the Buffalo City delegation, which included the 2010 project manager, Roy Young; the director for executive support services, Vuyo Zambodla; and the general manager for roads and design services, Luyanda Mbula, that Buffalo City should have high quality accommodation that could be relatively easily provided with a security cordon for the safety and privacy of the players and their team management and support.
“Other factors to look into include the availability of high quality gym facilities, high quality floodlighting and easy access to an airport within reasonable travelling distance for flights to and from match venues on the team’s private aircraft.”
Young said construction was under way at Absa Stadium, including the installation of high quality lighting. “This is the first tangible action that the City has taken to reflect its seriousness in being a team base camp for the World Cup.”
The City plans to begin work at Gompo Stadium before the end of the year to ensure that by February 2010, the field is ready for the teams. In all, the turf will be upgraded; lighting installed; 200 media seats installed; proper dressing rooms and parking added.
The Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture has given Buffalo City R50-million as part of the 2010 legacy project. “The funds will help revamp the two stadiums chosen by FIFA and also other stadiums around the city,” said Young.
Other sports fields to be upgraded include Buffalo Park Sports Field, Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Bhisho Stadium and Victoria Showgrounds in King William’s Town.
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