6 Feb 2009First World Cup stadium completed in South Africa

Football Technology and Stadia

South Africa took a major step in its attempts to prepare fully for the World Cup next year when it confirmed yesterday (February 4th) that its first stadium is completed.

The renovation of the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria has been successfully finalised and it is now set to host its first South African Premier League match on Saturday.

Improvements at the venue - which is one of ten the country is preparing for the showpiece event - include boosting the capacity from 45,000 to 50,000 and installing a new roof on one of the main stands.

The news comes as a timely boost after it was revealed that the other three grounds which were scheduled to be ready in 2008 - in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg - are still some way short of completion.

The stadium, which is also the host of rugby union team the Blue Bulls, will be one of the four venues to be used for the Confederations Cup tournament in June.

South Africa will become the first African nation to host the World Cup.

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