Soccer Conditioning Drills

The world keenly anticipates the start of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. South Africa has emerges as the host for the 2010 world cup after a lot of debate, bidding and voting.. A lot is in stall on the soccer wall calendar 2010 with the first teams to compete being the host city-South Africa and Mexico.Many theorize that it would be probable for the final world cup winners football game to have an African nation involved but this is yet to be seen. For those who won’t have the privilege of following the tournament, you might be wondering on what kind of stadiums the  football all stars will be performing their soccer tricks. Well South Africa really took to heart their being the 2010 hosts and over the years constructed five totally new stunning stadiums.Here’s a peek for all you ‘soccerholics’:

*Moses Mabhida Stadium- constructed on the site of the former Kings Park Soccer Stadium, this teflon-coated, glass-fibre roofed stadium was officially opened on November 2009.

Capacity: 70,000 Location: Durban Design: inspired by the South African flag, the legs of the arch on the southern side join to form a single footing on the northern side. Symbolically, this arch signifies the unity of aonce divided country.The highest point bears a height of 347 feet. Has a translucent glow if lit.
* Green Point Stadium- reconstructed for the World Cup. Scheduled to hold the first six round matches, one second-round, one quarter and one semifinal match.

Capacity:70,000  Location: Cape Town Design: located between the ocean and has the beautiful mountains as a backdrop. Also equiped with sound proof material. Has an amazing retractable glass roof weighing about 4,500 tons.

* Mbombela Stadium- a  Siwala world meaning “many people together in a small space.” Capacity: 40,000 Location:Nelspruit  Design:  has giraffe looking roof designs and seats that resemble the stripes of a giraffe. * Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium-Will be hosting five first round matches, one second round, one quarter final and the third place playoff. Name taken from the municipality name not the x-president Nelson Mandela.

Capacity: 50 000  Location:Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth  Design:a very beautiful looking stadium. Also named ‘the sunflower’ because of it’s unique structures.

* Soccer City Stadium- scheduled to hold all the main events both the opening and final match. The largest stadium in Africa.

Capacity:94,500 Location: Johannesburg  Design:gets its design from an African Pot or calabash.

This years Cup is one to go in the books with all these great stadiums. Doesn’t it just makes you want to book the next flight straight to the heart of Africa?

June 11, Friday is a date that will stay in all Africans and also the many soccer fans worldwide as the day Africa comes to be the venue for the FIFA World Cup. For the past 80 years, the FIFA World Cup host nations have alternated between Europe and the Americas Just how is the location for a FIFA World Cup decided?The latest selection policy is that any country can bid for the world cup as long as their continental confederation hasn’t hosted it in the past two years which makes a Africa very eligible. In the 2006 bidding, South Africa against Germany, the final count being 12 votes to 11. All countries that bid for the 2010 World Cup were African including South Africa, Morocco and Egypt. South Africa beat Morocco by 4 votes leading to this memorable event.Those are the ‘technical’ reasons why this years World Cup is being held in South Africa but is the country itself capable of holding such an event? I would answer with a resounding “Yes”.Here’s why:

* They’ve got a great team- that simple fact makes them deserving to have the great privilege of hosting the cup.If you’d ask me, having a World Cup in a country whose team isn’t even above average would be a disgrace. Even if  you look back, the soccer teams of countries hosting the cup are usually first class like Brazil (1950), Argentina(1978) and Italy(1990). If South Africa was added to the list, nobody would mind.

* You should see the stadiums- as part of their preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa has constructed four brand new mind-blowing stadiums.One has a detractable glass roof, another with spectacular lighting, then there’s the ‘zebra’ inspired stadium located nearby the many game parks, and finally one that resembles the South African flag. Is there anything else you could want?

* Great Weather- wildlife aside, South Africa is renowned for it’s weather. It will be winter time when the World Football Tournament will take place. Don’t worry, our favorite players won’t freeze to death, South Africa’s winter temperature at midday, is warmer than most countries daily summer temperature! Lower temperatures have been proved to be better for athlete’s bodies so the average expected temperature of 20 degrees Celsius at 12pm noon will be great. With good weather, we can expect better performance..

* Africa- civilization as we know it has been thought to have begun in Africa and many African coutries hold soccer dear to their hearts. Could you think of a better venu for the world to unite? Also, during the Mandela era, football was a cause of unification and a force for the apartheid resistance. Having Soweto be the venue for the finals will add meaning and make the even even more memorable for the reason that Soweto has been the heart of South African soccer.

In my opinion, no controversy in the past four years can change the  fact that South Africa is the best place for  the 2010 FIFA World Cup and everyone should be proud that for the first time in  history, Africa is holidng a sporting event this big.