Host Cities Ready To Welcome Teams And Fans In 2010

With the 2010 World Cup draw done and dusted, South Africa's host cities for next year's international showpiece now have a clear idea of the teams and fans they will be hosting. The great news is that football fans in the smaller cities such as Polokwane, Rustenburg and Nelspruit will all have the same opportunities to capture a glimpse of the football stars expected on South African shores next year. �We are excited on a number of fronts. With the 18 giraffes that tower above us at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, we too are ready to walk tall and deliver a great experience. Our people are amazing, warm and peaceful,� said Lassy Chiwayo, Mayor of Nelspruit, according to Kickoff.com. Nelspruit will see Honduras and Chile battle it out on June 16, with defending champions Italy playing New Zealand on June 20. All matches will be played in the newly built Mbombela stadium which boasts seating and structures resembling the wildlife of the surrounding areas. Polokwane also promises to deliver a different World Cup experience for the teams and the thousands of fans. �We will welcome fans to a natural environment away from the noise and concrete of the city. We will offer something to everyone,� said host city coordinator Ndavhe Ramakuela to Kickoff.com. Polokwane, in the Limpopo Province, offers fans travelling to watch the France-Mexico game on June 17 or Greece v Argentina on June 22 a variety of activities including game viewing or visits to neighbouring Botswana and Mozambique. Rustenburg, the regal home to the Royal Bafokeng family will see an influx of fans too as they come to watch England against USA on Saturday, June 12. The city can also expect an influx of African supporters as the continent's favourites, Ghana, play against Australia on June 19. Having had its new stadium built and ready over a year ahead of the tournament, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro will be entertaining fans from Chile, England, Portugal and Germany as they travel to the Eastern Cape for some superb on-field action. The Mayor of Port Elizabeth/Nelson Mandela Bay, Zanoxolo Wayile, told FIFA.com, �We are more than prepared in terms of accommodation, transportation, safety and security, entertainment and of course the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium is one of the best facilities in the world. �We are confident all 10 teams will feel more than at home in a city named after the great man himself.� With names such as France, Uruguay, Paraguay, England, Algeria, Portugal, North Korea, Cameroon, Netherlands as well as a Semi Final match to be hosted by the City of Cape Town, there is certainly a lot of excitement in the Mother City. �Just looking at the draw, we were very happy with what we saw. There are some big names there and the tournament in Cape Town will certainly be a huge spectacle,� said Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato, to Kickoff.com. But the eyes of the world will be on Soccer City in Johannesburg when the tournament kicks off between host country South Africa and Mexico on June 11. Christa Venter of Johannesburg City told Kickoff.com, �The opening ceremony is going to be great � we look forward to the vibe and seeing the Mexican Wave in tandem with the vuvuzela.� Johannesburg will see most of the greats at some stage between Soccer City and Ellis Park stadiums, including Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Italy.