The Beautiful Game enjoyed by all in KZN
It’s one thing to live in an urban area where access to shopping malls and alternatives are a plenty. It’s quiet another thing to live in the less populated areas, where going to the mall is a two hour (if not more) return trip away. Grace Taylor writes...
From eShikaweni to Ezakheni, there was no place where residents and visitors to KwaZulu-Natal could escape soccer fever. In collaboration with Boxer Super Stores, KZN Provincial Government and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, public viewing areas (PVAs) were set up in the 10 districts in KZN outside of the host city. Using Jumbotrons to broadcast the matches, locals from even the most remote areas had a chance to say there were part of the 2010 Fifa World Cup action. According to the DEDT’s general manager Damon Mathfield, attendance at the PVAs was phenomenal.
“From 10 district municipalities, excluding eThekwini, nearly half a million people watched the soccer world cup at our public viewing areas. On the day of the finals, nearly 80 000 were recorded at PVAs across the province." The uThungulu district boasted the highest attendance figures, with nearly 15 000 people present. Said Mathfield: “Innovatively creating our own PVAs accomplished two main objectives of the DEDT -- which was to bring the 'beautiful game' to all in KwaZulu-Natal and to promote small business in those areas."
Mathfield said at least six small businesses per district were supplied with stalls in which to sell items to patrons who were going to the public viewing areas. "Prior to the world cup worshops were held in each District for SMMEs that would participate in World Cup and they were grateful to be a part of this unique occasion and to be able to earn an income from the World Cup."
Mathfield said going forward, the DEDT would continue working with municipalities to ensure that SMME development and tourism would not fall by the wayside, post this 2010 Soccer World Cup.
“We plan to make sure that there is a legacy that remains after 2010. A survey has been conducted each day of the WC to determine performance and needs of the SMME," he concluded.
