Grand opening for Orlando Stadium
The pride of Soweto, Orlando Stadium, is opening on Saturday, 22 November and the City has organised a memorable, three-day programme to celebrate the milestone.
"The City has completed the rebuilding of Orlando Stadium, which will be used as one of the training venues for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™," Acting Mayor Nandi Mayathula-Khoza told the media at Metro Centre in Braamfontein on 19 November.
She said Executive Mayor Amos Masondo would officially hand over the 40 000 seat stadium to FIFA on Saturday, the first day of a three-day programme.
On the day, Soweto football giants Orlando Pirates will take on Thanda Royal Zulu at 8pm in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match. The following day, on Sunday, another Soweto team, Moroka Swallows, will take on Platinum Stars, and Kaizer Chiefs will battle Golden Arrows on Wednesday, 23 November in other PLS matches.
The curtain raiser to the first match will be a game pitting Pirates and Swallows Legends against Chiefs and Sundowns Legends.
In addition, there would be entertainment galore during the three days, according to Mayathula-Khoza.
"Reverend Vukile Mehana will provide spiritual inspiration and the Soweto Gospel Choir and Imilonji kaNtu will be there to wow crowds with choral music. Zulu Boy, Arthur, Alaska and Mandoza will complete the musical line-up."
History
Mayathula-Khoza also reflected on the history of Orlando Stadium.
For almost 40 years, the Orlando grounds were sacred to South African soccer, "only to be replaced by the gigantic concrete bowl of FNB Stadium, the cathedral of African soccer".
"On 3 May 2006, a day after Orlando Stadium celebrated its 47th anniversary, we handed her - the 'old lady' - to the contractors. On that day we marked the City of Johannesburg's ground-breaking movement towards the first 2010 project to be initiated by the City."
On 2 May 2008, Orlando Stadium celebrated its 49th anniversary. During the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009, it would be 50 years old.
Mayathula-Khoza said the new stadium was the biggest and most sophisticated stadium in Soweto. It met all FIFA and PSL standards and requirements.
"Orlando Stadium, before its [reconstruction], used to sit plus-or-minus 24 000 people; and by the time this new facility is complete it will accommodate more than 40 000 people," she said.
Built at a cost of R280-million, Mayathula-Khoza said the stadium was completed on time, within budget and without compromising on quality. A quarter of this amount came from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant; the balance came from the City's budget.
"The stadium is surrounded by a quality precinct that will ensure free and safe movement of spectators and enhance the enjoyable experience that will be created by the stadium facilities."
Well-lit footways from Orlando and Mlamlankunzi train stations had been provided, and surveillance cameras were to be extended to these footways to improve spectator safety.
Legacy
"This project was conceptualised in such a way that it took into account our commitment to use the pressure of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to ensure that a lasting legacy is left behind for the benefit of the residents of Johannesburg. When the soccer spectacle has come and gone there must be something of value that is there for all to see and point at."
In line with the City's commitment in 2006 that it make the stadium a multipurpose facility, it included:
- A multipurpose stadium for soccer, rugby, gatherings and concerts, among others;
- About 120 hospitality suites (dependent on size);
- Conference facilities for events such as weddings, matric dances and similar functions;
- Meeting rooms;
- A gymnasium;
- A fan shop;
- Offices;
- Video screens; and
- Security facilities, including CCTV cameras that extend into the precinct.
In addition, the community had benefited through the jobs that had been created. Mayathula-Khoza said that to date, 2 205 jobs had been created and training had been provided in the fields of carpentry, bricklaying, plastering and painting.
"Orlando Stadium represents a change in Soweto's skyline. This stadium will be a reference point for all tourists and soccer lovers as a legacy of 2010.
"In conclusion, let me re-emphasise that for us in the City, we see this project as part of a bigger programme of restoring the dignity of our people. We have spared no amount of craftsmanship in ensuring that quality is not compromised."
Its inauguration would indeed mark a significant moment in the history and future of soccer.
The City's 2010 executive director, Sibongile Mazibuko, said schools in the vicinity would be able to get a closer look at the new stadium on Friday, 21 November. On the official opening day - Saturday - only 30 000 people would be allowed into the stadium as a way to "test" the venue.
"There will be parking at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, from where a shuttle service will be provided to and from the stadium. The schools around the stadium will also be used as parking areas," Mazibuko said.
The SAPS and the JMPD would be out in full and the City's disaster management unit would be on standby on the day.
