Port Elizabeth gets 2010 World Cup vote of Confidence

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth has been given a vote of confidence by the 2010 World Cup local organising committee to host next June's Confederations Cup to be staged as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup in 2010.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro were given until Monday to comply with Fifa and LOC requirements and give the world body and the LOC assurances that the new stadium would be completed on time. LOC chairman Irvin Khoza said that the thumbs up for PE were conditional.

He explained: "We will monitor the situation carefully and if the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium or any of the five stadiums we propose using for the Confederations Cup fails to meet time lines and deadlines then they will be booted out."

Khoza said that the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was given special dispensation until March 2009 to be ready. The other four stadiums to host Confederations Cup matches are Ellis Park, the Bloemfontein Stadium, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace and Loftus.

Khoza explained that the PE stadium have been given special treatment because it was the only new stadium to be used for the Confederation Cup.

Said Khoza:"There are special circumstances surrounding the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and we decided to extend their deadline to March 2009. The other stadiums which we will use for the Confederations Cup are all being upgraded must be ready by December this year."

Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke said that Fifa felt that it was important that the Nelson Mandela Bay venue is ready and be part of the Confederations Cup.

But warned the Fifa boss: "If they fail to meet the criteria and deadlines we have set then we will have no option but to pull the plug on the stadium."

The Confederations Cup which will be played ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals will be held from 14-28 June 2009 to test the readiness of South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup.

The executive mayor of the Nelson Mandela metro Nondumiso Maphazi thanked both Fifa and the LOC for giving the stadium the green light.

She said: "This means a lot to the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay and I thank you for having faith in us. I promise both Fifa and the LOC that we will deliver the stadium on time." Khoza admitted that it had been a difficult six months dealing with the stadium issues but was he happy that at last everything was on track.

Meanwhile Valcke said that Fifa and the LOC had agreed that the lowest ticket prices for the event would be $US 10.

The most expensive would be $US 200. But Valcke added all tickets sold in South Africa would be sold in rands at a fixed exchanged rate. Wheelchairs and their pushers would be allowed into matches for $US 10 at all matches.

LOC chief executive officer Danny Jordaan made a passionate appeal for all South African to support the tournament.

He said: "Fifa have come to the party and have made ticket prices accessible to all South Africans. It is very important we support the Confederations Cup, which apart from Bafana Bafana, features seven other champions including world champions Italy and Brazil. "

He also told PE that not only must they ensure that the stadium is ready on time but the organisers in PE must make sure they fill the stadium.

The teams involved in the Confederations Cup are Bafana, Italy, Brazil, the United States, Iraq, Egypt plus the champions of Europe and Oceania which are still to be decided.

Sapa