Peter Mokaba Stadium

Located in Polokwane, South Africa, the Peter Mokaba Stadium is a football and rugby stadium having a capacity of 45,500.

The stadium was built for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

History

The stadium is named after Peter Mokaba, who was a former leader of the ANC Youth League. On 23 January 2010, the first event at the stadium was held at the Peter Mokaba Cup, which was a 4-team friendly tournament.

On 31 May 2010, the stadium hosted its first international game which was the internationally friendly game between South Africa and Guatemala. On 20 November 2010, the stadium hosted its first competitive football match.

Although the Peter Mokaba Stadium was built with a capacity for 45,500 spectators, this was reduced to 41,733 for the FIFA World Cup.

Architecture of the Stadium

The stadium design was inspired by the baobab tree. At each corner, you see a cylindrical steel structure that resembles the baobab's muscular trunk. They hold the sweeping, aerodynamic roof that is designed to flex in the high winds that frequently occur during summer rainfall in Polokwane.

The stadium’s steel structure gathers together at each corner of the stadium and is supported by structures that resemble massive tree trunks.

There is a VIP area that accommodates up to 500 VIPs, a VIP reception area and lounge, as well as offices and storage areas.

Major Matches

The stadium is one of five new stadiums that were built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and it hosted four Group matches during the tournament.