Venue - Rustenburg
Monday, July 17, 2006
Rustenburg is 112 km north of Johannesburg, at the foot of the breathtaking Magaliesburg Mountains. It is the capital of the North West Province. The North West Province has seven national parks and game parks including the Madikwe Game Reserve (bordering on Botswana) and the Pilanesberg National Park where you could see the Big Five game (buffalo, leopard, lion, rhinoceros and elephant). The region is rich in mineral wealth and boasts the most platinum mined in the world making it the platinum capital of the world. It is no surprise that mining provides the most employment in the area. On average, Rustenburg is 3-5°C warmer than Johannesburg.
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Rustenburg is also 30 kilometres from the sensational Sun City incorporating The Palace of the Lost City. Attractions at this resort include hot air balloon rides and The Valley of Waves nestled in a 25 hectare jungle. The Hartebeespoort Dam, only 40 minutes from Rustenburg is a getaway for many people from Johannesburg. The easy pace of life at the dam is a great place to unwind and relax after the excitement of supporting your favourite team.
The stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace. The stadium is owned by the indigenous Bafokeng tribe. It seats 40,000 people.| Other venues: |
| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 2:24 AM,
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Venue - Pretoria
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Pretoria, often referred to as Jacaranda City for its numerous Jacaranda trees, is part of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. It is located approximately 50km north of Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province and is the administrative capital of South Africa with an average annual temperature of 17.5°C.
The Ndebele people were the first people to settle along the Tshwane River which was named after a Ndebele chief. Tshwane literally means “little ape” in Ndebele. This would later become the site for Pretoria. When the city was founded in 1885, it became the first capital of the Zuid - Afrikaanche Republiek (ZAR). The Rivonia Treason Trial (1956-1961) which led to the prosecution of Nelson Mandela among others, was held in Pretoria.
Two Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams play in Pretoria. Supersport United were runners up in two PSL seasons and have won numerous charity competitions. In 2001/2002, Mamelodi Sundowns, were finalists in the CAF Champions League and have been champions of the PSL for three seasons.
Stadium
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| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 2:20 AM,
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Venue - Port Elizabeth
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Nelson Mandela Bay incorporates Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch.
Port Elizabeth has many aliases, PE, the friendly city, Die Baai (Afrikaans) and Ibhayi (isiXhosa). But Port Elizabeth was named after Sir Rufane Donkin's deceased wife Elizabeth. He was the acting governor of the Cape Colony at the time. This cemented a long history Britain had with Port Elizabeth.
PE was also a centre for the Eastern Cape intellectual elements of the struggle against apartheid. The Black Consciousness Movement's leader, Steve Biko's last detention was in PE before his fatal transportation to Pretoria, where he eventually died. People such as Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela originate from the Eastern Cape.
PE has 40 kilometres of immaculate beaches in a protected bay. The beaches often have perfect conditions for water activities, making it the water sport capital of Africa. King's Beach and Hobie Beach are very popular beaches and Pollock Beach, known locally as “the Pipe”, is a favourite with surfers.
PE is in close proximity to prestigious game reserves with the Big Five and the highest bungee jump in the world. Exploring the Eastern Cape promises charming and beautiful surprises such as Hogsback and Coffee Bay.
The Eastern Cape football team are the Bush Bucks, based in East London. The founders of the club were very big Liverpool FC fans and share the same slogan, “You'll Never Walk Alone”. They have a card carrying fan base of 250,000.
Stadium
Nelson Mandela Bay does not have a football stadium. All international matches were played at the Eastern Province Rugby team's ground. A new football stadium, The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, will be built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
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| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 2:19 AM,
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Venue - Polokwane
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Polokwane, previously Pietersburg, is the capital of the most northern province of Limpopo. In 1886, Pietersburg was named after General Petrus Jacobus Joubert, a leader of the Voortrekkers (first Dutch settlers in South Africa).
Limpopo is the land of the baobab tree and the Rain Queen, Modjadji the Fifth. Modjadji literally means “ruler of the day” and is the ruler of the Bolebedu tribe.
Limpopo has two professional football teams. The first, Dynamos, are based in Polokwane and have won the local First Division Inland Stream Champions in the 1997/1998 and 2001/2002 seasons. The second team, Black Leopards, formed in 1983, were also First Division Inland Stream Champions in the 2000/2001 season.
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| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 2:17 AM,
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Venue - Nelspruit
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Nelspruit, the capital of the Mpumalanga Province, was founded in 1905 by the Nel family. Their family farmed cattle in the area and eventually settled along the Crocodile River which runs through the center of the province. Mpumalanga means “place where the sun rises” in SiSwathi.
Nelspruit is the gateway to the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, consisting of the Kruger National Park (South Africa), Limpopo National Park (Mozambique) and Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe).The Kruger has animals in abundance, including the Big Five and the quirky dung beetle (scarab beetle), so named for rolling dung into balls to lay eggs in. Nelspruit is also only 60 kilometers from the border of Mozambique and has a sub-tropical climate, making it ideal for the large citrus farming industry.
Stadium
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| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 2:12 AM,
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Venue - Bloemfontein
The Mangaung Metropolitan includes Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. Manguang is Sotho for “the place where cheetahs dwell”. It is situated in the Free State Province in the centre of South Africa and is also the judicial capital. Bloemfontein is rumoured to have been named after an abundance of roses which grew around a fountain on a farm owned by a Dutch settler (Voortrekker), Johannes Nicolaas Brit. Bloemfontein literally means ‘fountain of flowers’ in Dutch. The Loch Logan Waterfront, at the centre of the landlocked ‘city of roses’, is an entertainment and shopping mecca. There are many museums and art galleries to see. The Sand du Plessis Theatre, opened in 1985, is one of the most modern theatres in the world. It has beautiful architecture and hosts many forms of theatre and concerts. The Free State Botanical garden, on the edge of Bloemfontein boasts 70 hectares of beautiful flora.
The Free State has two professional football teams, the Bloemfontein Celtics and Free State Stars. Bloemfontein Celtics won the First Division Inland Stream Champions: 2003/04. In the 2004/2005 season, the Free State Stars won the First Division Championship and have since been promoted to the Premier Soccer League. | ||
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The Golden Gate Highland Park consists primarily of sandstone cliffs. At sunset, the cliffs glow with a golden hue with touches of red and orange. The Vredefort Dome is the oldest impact crater in the world, dating back 2,023 million years.
The Free State Stadium, built in 1952, will host games for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. A second tier of seating will be added to the current stadium. After its upgrade for the tournament, it will have a gross seating capacity of 40 000. It is the home ground of Bloemfontein Celtics.| Other venues: |
| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 2:03 AM,
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Venue - Johannesburg
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Johannesburg, also known as ‘Joburg’, is the capital of the Gauteng Province. It contributes 16% of the national GDP making it the economic powerhouse in South Africa. At 1,753m above sea level, Joburg is considered the gateway to South Africa and indeed, Africa.
Johannesburg was founded on October 4, 1886, after the discovery of gold in the area. The origin of the name ‘Johannesburg’ is not clear although Johannes was a very common Dutch name at the time. Christiaan Johannes Joubert and Johannes Rissik, who were sent by the state to decide on the place where the newly founded ‘gold town’ would be found. There is speculation that the city may have been named after them. However, Veldkornet (field commander) Johannes Meyer, who is attributed with bringing stability to the area by pegging out gold prospectors claims is also a likely candidate. Joburg is also aptly nicknamed: Egoli, the place of gold, as approximately 40% of the world’s gold originates from here.
Joburg could be called the home of football as it has the highest concentration of football teams in South Africa. Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Moroko Swallows, and Jomo Cosmos all play their football in the greater Joburg area.
Stadiums
Johannesburg will have two stadiums to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Soccer City and Ellis Park. Ellis Park, built in 1927, is near the city centre and is part of a 48 hectare Greater Ellis Park Sport Precinct. It has been host to many international football and rugby games and seats 55,000 people. Although predominantly a rugby stadium, it has hosted matches involving Arsenal, Manchester United and Brazil. The sports complex will be upgraded for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and the stadium should seat 60,000.
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| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 1:59 AM,
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Venue - Durban
Durban
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On Christmas Day, 1497, the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed in a natural lagoon which would become the site of Durban. He mistook the lagoon for a river and named it Rio de Natal (Christmas River) but it was later corrected and changed to Port Natal. Port Natal became Durban on 23 June 1835, in honour of Cape Governor, Sir Benjamin D'Urban.
In the late 1800’s, the British brought many people from India to work on the sugar cane plantations in Natal. In 1893, Mahatma Gandhi arrived from India. On his way to Johannesburg, he was denied a seat on a train because of his skin colour. Durban became the base from which he formulated his passive resistance campaign against the South African government and the exploitation of Indian sugarcane workers.
Only a three hour drive from Durban is the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park. It is the largest estuarine system in Africa, encompassing 13 protected areas. It is a World Heritage site and is home to a large amount of bird species. Kwazulu/Natal’s second World Heritage site, the Ukahlamba-Drakensberg Park is in stark contrast with this. For the San people, the 200km mountain range has been an integral part of their history and is decorated with a rich collection of rock painting. Ukahlamba literally means “barrier of spears” in Zulu.
The Premier Soccer League teams from this region are Maritzburg Classic and the Golden Arrows. Maritzburg classics were previously known as the Thembisa Classic before they were renamed at the end of the 2005/2006 season. This team is based is based in Pietermaritburg. Golden Arrows play their football at King’s Park.
Stadium
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| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 1:27 AM,
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Venue - Cape Town
Cape Town
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Cape Town is a port city situated in the scenic Western Cape Province. The city is flanked by natural beauty and characterized by outdoor living, such as summer concerts at the Kirstenbosch Gardens and beautiful beaches.
The iconic Table Mountain, named for its flat top, is a well known mariner’s landmark and on a clear day, is visible 200km out to sea. Towering 1086m above sea level, the mountain has 1,470 species of flora, more flora than found on the British Isles. Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate experiencing winter rainfall. The temperature during winter ranges from 18° to 22° C.
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a popular tourist destination, has been in existence since early mariner times and is now a shopping heaven. It is also the departing point for Robben Island, the prison which held political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, during the apartheid era. The Two Oceans Aquarium, found at the Waterfront, showcases the oceanic life from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans which meet at Cape Point.
The Western Cape is renowned for its wine cultivation. The most prized South African wines originate from this area, including pinotage, a wine exclusive to the country. The province is also renowned for whale watching, which can be done from June to November. Approximately one quarter of the Southern Right Whale population migrates to South Africa during calving season. Places such as Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenburg Bay, are ideal for viewing. These cities are along what is known as the Garden Route, named for its lush scenery and breathtaking ocean views.
Two Premier League teams are based in Cape Town. Dynamos, also known as ‘the people’s team’, have won many tournaments and titles, including the Premier Soccer League title in the 2002/2003 season. The other team, Ajax Cape Town was an amalgamation of Seven Stars and Cape Town Spurs. Ajax Cape Town is also a feeder club for Ajax Amsterdam.
Stadium
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| > Cape Town > Durban > Johannesburg > Bloemfontein > Nelspruit > Polokwane > Port Elizabeth > Pretoria |
posted @ 1:19 AM,
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South Africa
| South Africa Overview
The Republic of South Africa is situated on the southern tip of the African continent and is home to more than 46 million people. There are 11 official languages of which Zulu is the most spoken mother tongue language, spoken by nearly 24 per cent of the population. Most people in major cities can speak or understand English while literacy in the region stands at over 80 per cent. South Africa is a relatively young democracy, its first democratic election was held in 1994. This ended more than a century of black oppression, even though Apartheid only officially came into existence in 1948. As a result of its violent past, South Africa now has the most progressive constitution in the world ensuring the rights of all its citizens. It is the biggest economy in Africa and is the world’s biggest exporter of gold and platinum. South Africa has good transport infrastructure, exceptionally advanced telecommunications systems and has the tenth largest stock exchange in the world. Its monetary unit is the South African Rand (ZAR).
It is bordered by six countries including Lesotho, which is landlocked by South Africa. South Africa has nine provinces, with Gauteng being the financial centre. There are three capitals, Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) and Pretoria (administrative). Its coastline spans 2500 kilometres, with the warm Indian Ocean and the cold Atlantic Ocean meeting at Cape Point. The landscape varies from the semi-dessert in Kalahari to semi-tropical in Nelspruit while Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean climate. The Khahlamba Drakensberg National Park is one of four world heritage sites and boasts the country’s highest point – the Thabana Ntlenyana, whose mountain peak rises to 3,482 m. Meanwhile the site of the Sterkfontein caves, north of Johannesburg, is considered to be, ‘the Cradle of Humankind’ after the discovery of fossils dating back between two and three million years. South Africa and Football
Football in South Africa mirrors the country’s history and the struggle of its people. Segregated football was enforced by the apartheid government and this later became a catalyst for the non-racial sport movement. Football, or soccer as it is known in South Africa, was also the favoured sport of Nelson Mandela when he was incarcerated on Robben Island. In 1991, football was the first sport to become unified, incorporating the four historically separated football bodies. It has captured the hearts of this sporting nation and has become a passionate love for all South Africans. At football games one is likely to hear the sound of the Vuvuzela, a plastic horn which gives South African football games a unique lively atmosphere. South Africa is currently building five new football stadiums in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. It will be the first time in history that the region will own stadiums dedicated to football. Under the previous Apartheid government, stadiums were built exclusively for rugby and cricket. This is a legacy that the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will leave in South Africa and for its people. |
posted @ 1:06 AM,
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