Buffalo puts 2010 plans in action
By Buffalo City Reporter
22 July 2009
THE tone has been set, the stage is ready and the excitement is building - by this time next year, South Africa would have hosted one of the greatest football World Cups in history, and the first on African soil.
It is with this in mind that Buffalo City has kicked into gear its 2010 game plan to ensure that its residents are part of the excitement during and beyond the event. It has identified various stadiums around the City to be revamped and infrastructure to be improved.
This is a R50-million legacy project between the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture and Buffalo City. Plans are also afoot for a women's soccer academy – to be funded for R10-million – as part of the legacy projects.
The City staged successful screenings of matches in Mdantsane during the Confederations Cup, played in four South African cities from 14 to 28 June. Games were broadcast live on the big screen for people to feel like they were part of the action.
During Bafana Bafana games, a festival atmosphere was created with entertainment and extravaganza for locals to rally behind the team.
A city by the sea, with a rich history and culture, world-class facilities and home to sporting champions, Buffalo City has done it before. It was a host city for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the 2003 Cricket World Cup, and most recently, the Indian Premier League cricket competition.
It is the home of the Border Rugby Bulldogs, the Chevrolet Cricket Warriors, South African and world boxing champions. It has also hosted Premier Soccer League matches and the Bay United team in the 2008/9 season.
While it is not a host city for the World Cup in 2010, Buffalo City is positioning itself as a sporting destination of choice and has ambitions to be a team base camp and training venue for one of the teams that will be participating.
As its 2010 slogan says, "We can't wait to meet you!"
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