The first of the brand new stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup has now been completed a full year ahead of the tournament. I’m referring to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. This is a very big psychological milestone for preparations for 2010 as it will hopefully ‘unblock’ all the obstacles facing the other new stadia so that they are all finished in good time.
The Eastern Cape has been greatly affected by the plummeting fortunes of the motorcar industry and hosting the 8 World Cup matches that it has been allocated could help to kickstart the economy of this region which is heavily reliant on the motor vehicle Industry – VW, General Motors and Mercedes Benz (Daimler-Chrysler) are all based here.
However, the province needs to encourage investors to bring a professional franchise to use their new magnificent 48 000 seater arena. Maybe, the model they should follow is that used by Supersport which is to invest in a longer-term project by acquiring a team in the second tier and then building a solid and sustainable foundation that enables the team to build itself gradually into the top-tier in such a way that the team stays there.
This model also worked beautifully for Jimmy Agousti when he took over an ailing Bloemfontein Celtics and managed to keep it in the top-flight ever since it was promoted back up. What would help as well is if the entrepreneur who undertakes such a venture is a solid citizen with a passion for the province.
Someone like Saki Macozoma would fit the bill very nicely. In fact, this high-roller was once linked with Bush Bucks several years ago but nothing came of his alleged interest in the club. Maybe now is the time to rekindle this venture.
On the subject of big returns, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Peter Koutroulis, a Manager at Sundowns during the pre-Motsepe era, has bounced back into the Premier Soccer League with Mpumalanga Black Aces – yet another example that you can build from the lower leagues and, with sound strategies, end up in the big league.
Bay United should also be revived so that one day in the future the people of the Eastern Cape can witness a PSL derby between two teams from that area. This is not impossible.
Anyway, let’s hope the completion of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium can be an omen for good things to come soon beginning with the British and Irish Lions rugby game against an Invitational side that will mark the inauguration of the new facility. Then it will be all systems go for the World Cup as far as Port Elizabeth is concerned.
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June 9, 2009
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