Tanzania: Chinese To Build Ultra-Modern Sports Centre In Mbulu - Tanzanian government in collaboration with the Government of China expects to build an ultra-modern sports centre in Mbulu district to promote sports. The facility to be known as "High Altitude Sports Centre Mbulu" will cost Tsh.10 billion on completion. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Council to Renovate Tennis Pavilion at Apapa Club - The Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Ayodeji Joseph said his council would assist the Apapa Club to execute some of the renovation projects currently undertaken by the club's management committee as a strategy to help the historic club regain its past glories. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Contractor Promises Completion of Venue Works in Two Weeks - The Kano State Commissioner for Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Ibrahim Garba, has expressed optimism the state government will complete all minor works remaining on all the facilities to be used for the coming FIFA Under-17 World Cup Finals before the end of next week. [AA Construction]

Botswana: Construction of Goal II Project Gets Underway - The expansion of accommodation facilities at Lekidi Football Centre under the FIFA Goal II project commenced yesterday. [AA Construction]

New multi-use sports fields for Luanda - New multi-use sports fields for Luanda - [ANGOP - Angola Press] [AA Angola]

Cameroon: Yaounde Sports Complex Not For Sports Only - The structure can host both sports and cultural events. [AA Urbanisation]

With only 365 days to go, today marks another milestone in the road towards hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, writes Proffesor Ndawonde.

In exactly one year, the first whistle will blow and the much-anticipated FIFA World Cup will kick off at Soccer City on Johannesburg.

The event is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in all nine Mzansi's provinces. All South Africans need to do is create a sense of patriotism and pride.

Millions of soccer enthusiasts will descend on the country not only to enjoy soccer but experience the country's rich heritage and culture - not least of all blowing the completely local vuvuzela.

World Cup fever has already been activated across the globe with several national teams wrestling to qualify for the tournament.

Although international giants like Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and England are uncertain about their future, soccer fans in Netherlands, Korea Republic, Australia and Japan are at ease as their national teams have already registered their names in the tournament.

By Chris Bathembu

Johannesburg - More than 3 000 minibus taxis and 450 buses, branded with a GauRide logo, will be made available to transport soccer fans to stadia across Gauteng during the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The GauRide vehicles, which will be complemented by the recently launched iTransie 2 Ellispark! Service, will also ensure that all spectators can travel safely to the Confederations Cup games.

Both iTransie 2 Ellis Park! and GauRide are run in partnership with the taxi industry.

"Central to the hosting of the tournament will be the effectiveness and efficiency with which we help transport thousands of soccer supporters to the match venues," said MEC for Roads and Transport, Bheki Nkosi.

He was addressing over 100 invited guests who braved the chilly whether to witness the launch of the GauRide initiative on Wednesday.

GauRide, which will kick-off on Sunday when Bafana Bafana take on Iraq at Ellis Park, will transport fans five hours before the match starts and three hours after the final whistle.

Pretoria - Johannesburg is gearing for the major crowds expected at its nine public viewing sites for the FIFA Confederations Cup opener on Sunday.

The first match in the tournament will see Bafana Bafana and Iraq clashing at Coca Cola Park.

City Parks has partnered with Township TV to host nine public viewing sites in impoverished areas where all the Confederations Cup matches will be broadcast free to the public.

The nine sites will offer fans a fiesta with a party atmosphere promising to thrill fans watching the Festival of Champions.

With support from sponsors, MTN, the Township TV concept has evolved into MTN eKasi TV where nine of the City of Johannesburg's parks in townships offer the public a novel dimension to using public recreation space.

The nine public viewing sites of eKasi TV are: Diepsloot, Thokoza Park Soweto, Lenasia, Eldorado Park, Orange Farm, Ivory Park, Alexandra and Joubert Park.

City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said they were satisfied the parks would be used safely and that litter, vandalism and vagrancy would be non-existent in these parks where a 24-hour security service is operating.

By Proffesor Ndawonde

Parliament - Preparations are on track for South Africa to deliver a world class 2010 FIFA World Cup, says President Jacob Zuma.

Delivering his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Wednesday, President Zuma said one of the largest infrastructure investment projects for government was the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"We have, as government and the nation at large, pledged that the World Cup will leave a proud legacy from which our children and our communities will benefit for many years to come," he said.

The fourth South African democratically elected President indicated that government and the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee were putting all systems in place to make the FIFA 2009 Confederations Cup, which kicks off on the 14th of June, a huge success.

President Zuma said another development which should boost the 2010 World Cup was the roll-out of the digital broadcasting infrastructure and signal distribution transmitters.

The FIFA 2010 World Cup is one of the foremost infrastructure projects that the newly-formed Infrastructure Development Cluster of government will ensure is properly planned for and executed.

Pretoria - The Tshwane Community Safety Department on Monday confirmed that it is ready to host the Confederations Cup matches at Loftus.

On Saturday, the city hosted the Super 14 final at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and expressed satisfaction with the security and community safety operations, adding it was prepared for the Confederations Cup to be held in two weeks time.

The Vodacom Bulls won the Vodacom Super 14 trophy after they outclassed the Chiefs 61-17 in an extremely one-sided, but highly entertaining final.

"The department is quite confident that the Confederations Cup will be executed in a safe and secure environment," said City's Community Safety department spokesperson Console Tleane said.

The department said it was quite prepared and they have tested all their systems during the rugby and soccer matches, using them as their dress rehearsal.

During the Supper 14 match on Saturday, the city deployed members of the Peace Development Programme (PDP) to patrol the inside of the park-and-ride.

The major upgrading and renovations Pretoria embarked on to ensure the successful hosting of FIFA Confederations Cup matches will finally come to fruition in the next few weeks, writes Bathandwa Mbola.

An estimated 50 000 overseas sports fans are expected to descend on South Africa for the Confederations Cup which kicks off on 14 June. Three matches will be played at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

On 15 June, the United States will play Italy at 8.30pm, on 18 June the US will go up against Brazil at 4pm and one of the bigger games will see Italy face off against Brazil on Sunday 21 June at 8.30pm.

Teams will start arriving in the country from next week to begin acclimatising and training, while fans are expected to begin trickling in the following week.

Speaking to BuaNews about the city's readiness to welcome international guests, Godfrey Nkwane, Chief Executive Officer of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality's 2010 unit, said they were ready and FIFA inspectors had given their preparations the thumbs up.

As the continent celebrated Africa Day today (25 May 2009), another milestone was achieved in ensuring that the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ leaves a legacy in Africa,with the official ground-breaking ceremony for the first of the 20 Football for Hope Centres, in Khayelitsha in Cape Town. This project is part of "20Centres for 2010", the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, which aims to build 20 Football for Hope community centres in South Africa, Mali, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Namibia and other still-to-be-determined locations across Africa.

The centres will address local social challenges in disadvantaged areas and improve education and health services for young people. They will include rooms for public health services and informal education, office space, common space for community gatherings, and a football turf pitch. The construction will be implemented by Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organisation that offers services to communities in need, and Green Fields, a leader in the construction and development of synthetic turf systems.

Sports Stadium Not Ready for Matches - Sports Stadium Not Ready for Matches - DESPITE being used for the Independence celebrations last month, the National Sports Stadium is not fit to host Premier Soccer League matches and has been shut down again. [All Africa : Zimbabwe] [AA Zimbabwe]

South Africa: Green Point Bill Escalating - The Green Point Stadium will, by the time it is complete, have cost nearly double the R2,5-billion price tag originally forecast at the end of 2006. [AA Construction]