Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria: World Cup 2010 stadium guide
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria: A guide to the Loftus Versfeld Stadium for the Fifa World Cup 2010 in South Africa, from June 11, 2010.
Loftus Versfeld Stadium - Pretoria Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Built in 1906 as the Eastern Sports Ground, the stadium was renamed after Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria's founder of organised sports, following his death in May 1932.
Lying around three miles from the centre of Pretoria, the basic facilities were first improved after the All Blacks's tour of 1928 when a profit was made allowing the construction of changing rooms and toilets. Its last upgrade was completed in 2008 with improvements made to the floodlights, PA system, scoreboard and roof for the Fifa World Cup
The stadium - one of the oldest in South Africa - has been used for both rugby and football matches and is home to one of the country's best rugby teams, the Blue Bulls, as well as the Mamelodi Sundowns, a Premier League football side nicknamed The Brazilians, because their home and away kits echo those of the five-time World Cup winners. Former Bulgarian international Hristo Stoichkov coaches the Sundowns. Built: 1906
Capacity: 50,000
Also known as: Loftus
Famous moment in sporting history: South Africa defeated a European nation (Sweden) at football for the first time in 1999 at Loftus Versfeld; 2009 South Africa v British & Irish Lions (second Test).
Home of: Blue Bulls (rugby), Sundowns FC.
World Cup 2010 games: five group games, one second-round game
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