Loftus Versfeld is in the heart of South Africa's capital, Pretoria, and has a seating capacity of just over 50,000. Very little upgrade was done to the stadium to meet FIFA standards and it is now ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium is one of the oldest in South Africa and has often been used for both rugby and football matches.
It is home to one of the country's best rugby teams, the Blue Bulls, as well as the Mamelodi Sundowns, a Premier League football side nicknamed The Brazilians, because their home and away kits echo those of the five-time World Cup winners.
In order for the Loftus Versfeld Stadium to meet requirements as a host for the 2010 World Cup, the construction of designated media areas in the lower level of the west stand, as well as the improvement of the roof of the stadium, was completed.
The electronic scoreboard, floodlights and sound system were also upgraded to improve the quality of the game for spectators as well as provide optimum media coverage for those fans not lucky enough to experience the match first-hand. Improvements to player facilities and changing rooms have also been put into place.
Journalists coming for the greatest football extravaganza in South Africa will be able to use the stadium’s world-class media facilities. Based in the lower level of the western stands, the world's media will broadcast the World Cup to the rest of the planet from improved working stations with upgrades done to the media tribune areas.
Facts
-Through the years the stadium has undergone various name changes as sponsors came and went, though locals have always referred to the stadium as Loftus Versfeld.
- South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana, achieved their first ever victory over a European side at this venue when they beat Sweden 1-0 in 1999.
- Loftus Stadium hosted a number of games during last year’s Confederations Cup, including one of the matches of the tournament between Italy and eventual champions Brazil.
- Used by South African PSL club Mamelodi Sundowns as their home ground for Premier Soccer League matches during the season.
- The stadium has hosted a number of concerts and musical events, including shows by Robbie Williams and Celine Dion.
History
Built in 1906 as the Eastern Sports Ground, the stadium was renamed after Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria's founder of organised sports, following his death in May 1932. The site on which Loftus Versfeld is located today was first used for sport in 1903.
Since 1948 it has undergone perennial upgrades. It has been used for both rugby and football matches and is home to one of the country's top rugby teams, the Blue Bulls.
It has been used for numerous sports events, including the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 1996 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which were both won by the host nation.
Pluses and Minuses
Pluses
- The 50,000 seater venue is easily accessible from the city centre through transport routes provided.
- Loftus boasts one of the country's finest corporate hospitality facilities.
- The stadium management is used to managing large events and great quantities of visitors with countless rugby finals and football matches played on the grounds at Loftus.
- Pretoria residents are huge sports fans, and the stadium is filled for most occasions.
Minuses
- Loftus is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa, and the venue is not as modern looking as some of the recently built arenas.
- Typically used for rugby more often than for football, the pitch takes a beating when Super 14 or Currie Cup matches take place, and extra work is done to keep the pitch in the right condition for football.
Games To Be Played
Six World Cup games will be played at Loftus, including one of the round of 16 games. The host country South Africa will play against Uruguay in one of the first round matches, while Ghana will face Serbia and the USA will clash with Algeria. Other mouth-watering fixtures that will take place in the City of Champions see Cameroon taking on Denmark and the breath-taking encounter between Chile and Spain.
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