NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM - OFFICIAL OPENING

Media release

Immediate release

A star-studded line up of entertainment and sport is scheduled for 28 February when Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile officially opens the new Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.

The momentous event, open to the public, will coincide with South Africa’s 2010 Fifa World Cup 100 Days of Festivities. The 100-day countdown to the start of the event on 11 June kicks off on March 1.

“The opening will also see the people of Nelson Mandela Bay coming together to both enjoy the beautiful game and celebrate our world class stadium and the future opportunities which it holds for the city,” said Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 Communications and Marketing Manager Putco Mafani.

The opening will be commemorated with a clash between Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Botswana’s Gaborone United, who will meet in a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League encounter at 3.30pm.

The curtain raiser will see young football players get the chance to test their ball skills on an international pitch.

Entertainment is scheduled from early Sunday morning. Both before and after the game, performers including the Bala Brothers, modern and traditional dancers, an appearance by Zakumi will keep spectators in high spirits.

A number of highly placed politicians and officials are expected to attend the event, including Eastern Cape premier Noxolo Kiviet. Several other senior officials from national and local government as well various football bodies will also attend the historical event.

Tickets to the match are affordably priced at R20 per adult and R10 per child. They are available through Computicket.

 “The match will be played as part of the venue readiness test, as prescribed by FIFA, in the build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. We are also making preparations for a full test event, so that we can run the operational plans as we will during the World Cup,” said Mafani.

“As the 2010 FIFA Word Cup South Africa ™ draws ever near, we realise how far we have come in terms of our various preparations, which have remained on track and, in many instances, have surpassed our expectations,” said 2010 FIFA World Cup Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Director Errol Heynes.

Last year, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which was the first to be completed in South Africa, successfully hosted several national and international events.

The New Year brought about a match between Bay United and South Korea. Rugby fans then enjoyed a game between the Cheetahs and an Eastern Cape invitation side on January 23.