FIND YOUR STADIUM
Host City Stadiums:
South Africa is hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup between Sunday 14 June 2009 and Sunday 28 June 2009. This tournament features a tightly contested fixture between 8 of the greatest top national teams at the moment. And the grounds on which these champions are to contest is equally impressive stadiums that have housed heroes in the making.
Ellis Park (Johannesburg)
this stadium was first built in 1928 as a rugby union stadium. It is named after JD Ellis, a Johannesburg city councilor at the time. This stadium was used for the 1995 IRB Rugby World Cup finals which South African side ‘the Springboks or die bokke’ won.
Ellis Park has also been the stage for many unforgettable football matches. Bafana Bafana drew 0-0 with then FIFA World Cup holders France in 2000 in an international friendly. The Nelson Mandela African XI played the World All Stars XI in a farewell match for the president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
Currently, it is the home ground of Orlando Pirates FC, a club in the Premier Soccer League. In 1995, they were the first South African team to win the CAF African Club Championship.
In 2008 Ellis Park received an upgrade and was renamed Coca Cola Park in time for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The stadium seating capacity is 61 000 and it can be accessed in New Doornfontein near China City & Johannesburg Stadium across the main central business district (CBD).
Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Tshwane/Pretoria)
this stadium is in the heart of Tshwane / Pretoria, with a seating capacity of over 45,000. Very little upgrade was needed for the 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup preparations. The site on which the stadium is located was first used for sport in the early 1900’s. It is named after Mr. Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, who is attributed with organizing sport in Pretoria.
This stadium has been used for numerous sports events including the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 CAF Africa Cup of Nations both of which South Africa won. The venue is now used by Mamelodi Sundowns as their home ground. Loftus Versfeld Stadium is located near the Union Buildings and the Presidential residency in Pretoria. »Find this stadium on the map
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace (Rustenburg)
This stadium is one of the four grounds that are reserved for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area. The stadium is only a 25 minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilansberg. It is a mere 12 kilometers from the Rustenburg city centre.
In 1999, the South African League Cup final was played at the stadium for the first time with Tshwane-based Mamelodi Sundowns beating Free Sate Stars 2-0. In 2000, South Africa was victorious 4-0 against Mauritius in a COSAFA Cup game held in Rustenburg. The South African national team played a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Burkina Faso in 2001 at this stadium and won 2-1. Since its construction in 1999, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace has now been upgraded to seat 42,000 spectators. »Find this stadium on the map
The Free State Stadium (Mangaung/Bloemfontein)
This stadium will host some of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The stadium was built in 1952 and it derives its name from the province in which it is located.
The Free State Stadium played host to group and quarter-final matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and the IRB Rugby World Cup in 1995 both of which South Africa won.
The stadium recently enjoyed a costly upgrade and it now moves from seating approximately 38,000 to boast a gross seating capacity of 48,000. This comes as a result of a second tier being added to the Western Pavilion. »Find this stadium on the map
