2010 WC stadium turns to be strong tourist attraction

Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg is where South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first 2010 FIFA World Cup goal and also it is where the first World Cup in African soil was officially opened. The stadium's legacy never dies, Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) this week revealed that the pitch is now more popular with local and international tourists than any other stadium in South Africa. SMSA chief executive Jacques Grobbelaar said visitors are choosing tours of the sports ground also known as FNB stadium over other stadiums because of its historical significance and architectural genius. "Almost 40,000 tourists have toured the stadium since its transformation in 2010. The numbers have increased significantly this year. Tours of the FNB Stadium have been extremely popular due to the historical significance and architectural genius," Grobbelaar said. "They offer a first-hand view of the models and main stadium, the ring of fire, spectator stands, the pitch, players' tunnel, change rooms, hospitality suites, venue operations center and the ramps," SMSA executive said. The stadium is located in Soweto, South Africa's oldest township which holds the significant party of the country's political history. The stadium is also surrounded by historical places which are attraction to both local and international tourists. This is where South Africa statesman Nelson Mandela's house is. Just adjacent to Mandela's house is a house of noble winner Arch-bishop Desmond Tutu. Few meters from these houses located in Vilakazi Street which is popular to tourist is Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum. The museum is always full packed with tourists and scholars who come for a view and to meet with Antoinette Sithole sister to Hector. At 13, Hector was among boys and girls who never had seen after June 16, 1976 the day students in Soweto went in the streets protesting and demanding better education for black students in South Africa. Hector was shot dead by police under a cloud of teargas and live bullets several were injured and hospitalized. Her sister Antoinette Sithole survived by hiding in a box behind a house in Orlando West. "Many tourists who come here can't afford to ignore and by pass the stadium, it's an addition all these historical places around Soweto," Sithole told Xinhua Thursday. Sithole is now working as Museum and Tourist Guide for Arts, Culture and Heritage Department at Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum. In a report released Wednesday by Johannesburg, Grobbelaar said the increase number of tourists who have expressed interest to the Stadium prompted his organization to roll out public tours of local stadiums that include Dobsonville, Rand and Orlando stadiums. Rand Stadium located South of Johannesburg is one of the oldest football pitches in South Africa and it can not go without mentioned when narrating the history of South African soccer. It is where in 1976 the first South Africa national official multi- racial soccer team that thrashed the all star Argentina team 5-0 played. All the five goals are said to have been scored by Matsilela Ephraim popularly known as Jomo Sono and nicknamed the " Black Prince of South African Soccer". Matsilela is now the owner of the stadium and his club Jomo Cosmos FC is based there. Grobbelaar said tours of all four stadiums take place at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday and at 12 noon to 1.30 p.m. on weekends. Adults pay 13 U.S. dollars each, pensioners pay 11 U.S. dollars and children under the age of six can join a tour for free. According to City of Johannesburg, the facility is the busiest in the country compared to the other soccer World Cup stadiums which are Ellis Park, also in Johannesburg, Loftus Versveld, in Pretoria, Royal Bafokeng, in Rustenburg; Mbombela, in Nelspruit; Peter Mokaba, in Polokwane; Free State, in Bloemfontein; Moses Mabhida, in Durban; Nelson Mandela, in Port Elizabeth, and Green Point in Cape Town. The facility, held under a 99-year lease with the City of Johannesburg, staged eight FIFA World Cup games. Grobbelaar said between January and March his organization received lots of bookings for concerts, church events and soccer matches. -Xinhua