26 June 2010
The Soccer World Cup Round of 16 commenced today. In Port Elizabeth, Uruguay edged out the tenacious South Koreans to progress to the quarter finals. Uruguay scored the deciding second goal late during the match. The Port Elizabeth pitch seems to be disintegrating after the storms experienced in this part of South Africa about a week ago. This does not bode well for the remaining games scheduled to be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. One of the quarter final matches is due to be played there on the 2nd July 2010. The final match at this stadium is the 3rd and 4th place playoffs.
In Rustenberg, Ghana put paid to the perseverance of the USA team’s promotion in this tournament. The only African team left in the tournament, the Ghana Black Stars scored the winning goal in the first half of extra time. The USA team’s visit to Rustenberg this time was not as productive as when they played the English here during the early part of the tournament.
Team USA and South Korea have distinguished themselves at this World Cup. Their exit from the tournament at this stage promises more potential during the next tournament to be held in Brazil. Their playing style and application on the field has certainly endeared them to many neutral but avid soccer followers.
South Africa has provided ten stadiums at which the matches of this World Cup have been played. They are at Soccer City, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Ellis Park, Loftus Versefeld, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenberg and Bloemfontein. The stadium at Soccer City, Durban and Cape Town can be regarded as world class stadiums. The Nelspruit, Rustenberg, Polokwane were virtually completely refurbished or built all anew. It is noteworthy that neither the teams nor the players have even uttered a single negative word about the stadiums, their facilities or the playing surfaces thus far.
The Durban stadium has been lauded as both engineering as well as an architectural success. Much the same can be said of Soccer City, Cape Town stadium and the Port Elizabeth stadium. These stadiums have cost the South African tax payer billions of rands to build. They shall off course stand as citadels of South Africa’s ability to put up infrastructure and host large sporting events. This does not even take into consideration the major infrastructural developments to our roads, airports and rail systems that eventuated through our hosting the World Cup.
In Rustenberg, Ghana put paid to the perseverance of the USA team’s promotion in this tournament. The only African team left in the tournament, the Ghana Black Stars scored the winning goal in the first half of extra time. The USA team’s visit to Rustenberg this time was not as productive as when they played the English here during the early part of the tournament.
Team USA and South Korea have distinguished themselves at this World Cup. Their exit from the tournament at this stage promises more potential during the next tournament to be held in Brazil. Their playing style and application on the field has certainly endeared them to many neutral but avid soccer followers.
South Africa has provided ten stadiums at which the matches of this World Cup have been played. They are at Soccer City, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Ellis Park, Loftus Versefeld, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenberg and Bloemfontein. The stadium at Soccer City, Durban and Cape Town can be regarded as world class stadiums. The Nelspruit, Rustenberg, Polokwane were virtually completely refurbished or built all anew. It is noteworthy that neither the teams nor the players have even uttered a single negative word about the stadiums, their facilities or the playing surfaces thus far.
The Durban stadium has been lauded as both engineering as well as an architectural success. Much the same can be said of Soccer City, Cape Town stadium and the Port Elizabeth stadium. These stadiums have cost the South African tax payer billions of rands to build. They shall off course stand as citadels of South Africa’s ability to put up infrastructure and host large sporting events. This does not even take into consideration the major infrastructural developments to our roads, airports and rail systems that eventuated through our hosting the World Cup.
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