Set in the capital of Limpopo, much loved of Rudyard Kipling and known as South Africa’s Food Basket, the Peter Mokoba Stadium is named after a hero of the anti-apartheid movement who came from the local area.
This newly built stadium can house a little over 45,000 spectators. With four banks of two tiers, it’s the first and largest sporting venue of its kind in the area and replaces the Pietersberg Stadium which has a capacity of just over 15,000.
As the smallest of the host cities, it will only host four group matches, but nonetheless gets Argentina and France both playing on its pitch against Greece and Mexico respectively, so there’ll be no shortage of quality on show.
After the World Cup it will serve for matches and events as the central stadium for the region although there’s currently no Premier Soccer League team in the area.
City: Polokwane
Construction: New
Complete: 2010
Official Capacity: 45,264
The Locale : The District
The Limpopo province is one of the less visited areas of South Africa, a hot, thorn bush covered expanse that borders Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north.
Polokane, the capital of the province, has a little over half a million souls living there, largely black, but with white and Indian pockets too. It’s the administrative and economic hub of Limpopo, and is easily accessed through the efficient, well maintained N1 motorway which runs in from the national capital Pretoria. As well as a possible gateway to the rest of Africa and for the Kruger National Park, this region contains plenty to see and do in its own right. Being somewhat off the main drag should mean crowds are to a minimum and should offer a less commercialised experience than other host cities.
The stadium is located about five kilometres from the city centre and, as you’re sure to discover if you venture to this area, Polokwane considers itself Africa’s City of Stars. With clear skies and little ambient light you can gaze from the pitch to the heavens and enjoy the crisp Milky Way above.
Local Sights to See: If you’re going to the stadium you should check out…
Polokwane is not blessed with an abundance of sights to see in town, but what it does have is one top quality golf course, located right next to the stadium. Older than the city itself, the Polokwane Golf Course is a par 72 course at a little over 6 kilometres long. It also has a pool, a bar and a regular BBQ if eating meat and drinking beer is more your thing.
Things to avoid
The City of Polokwane have helpfully provided some trips for would be travellers, highlighted below.
· AVOID strange, dark, poorly illuminated places.
· Practise SAFE sex.
· Do not engage in unofficial currency exchanges.
· DO NOT accept drinks from strangers.
· Avoid ostentatious displays of wealth.
· Follow these tips!
And, in an emergency:
· DO NOT Panic. Think laterally/logically. Try to talk your way out of a situation
Done, done and done.
Games to be played there:
June 13th: Group C – Algeria vs Slovenia
June 17th: Group A – France vs Mexico
June 22nd: Group B – Greece vs Argentina
June 24th: Group F –Paraguay vs New Zealand
