IN PICTURES: Alexandra Stadium could soon be Fifa and PSL compliant

After years of failed attempts to revamp Alexandra Stadium, an investment by the City means the stadium could soon be both Fifa and Premier Soccer League compliant.

This would mean that the iconic stadium will then be able to host games such as the MultiChoice Diski Challenge and GladAfrica Championship. However, the stadium would not be able to host the Absa Premiership games due to the limited and insufficient free access points to the stadium and a lack of parking.

The renovation follows an investment of R2.2 million by the City of Johannesburg towards the project which was conceived soon after the ANC took over the City administration when then-DA mayor Herman Mashaba resigned. The project started on 15 May this year and is expected to be completed by 31 July this year. The specifications of the work to be done at the stadium include laying new grass for the stadium, erecting a new water drainage system to the usually waterlogged eastern side of the ground, and extending the pitch on the eastern side.

Other repairs to the stadium will involve upgrading the grandstand, repairing the dilapidated ablution blocks and change rooms for players, mending the malfunctioning floodlights and attending to other electrical issues, restoring the caretaker’s house and fixing the parking area and fence surrounding the stadium.

The stadium’s revamp was one of the items that gave the late-life president of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association (ANLFA) Moss Selolo sleepless nights over years, dating back to the awarding of hosting rights of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Selolo worked tirelessly up until his untimely death on 10 January, two days after he led an inspection team of the PSL at the stadium, to drum up support to have it fixed and compliant.ANLFA president Maisha Molepo said the football body and community of Alex was delighted that finally the stadium will be fixed. “We’re happy that the City of Joburg has finally made true their promise and will finally upgrade the stadium.

Molepo longs for the rejuvenation of football in townships which brings back old memories of games such as the original Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates versus Moroka Swallows and many other games and the excitement it came with.

“We are looking forward to bring back the glory days of football in Alex. People of Alex and surroundings will be able to come and watch MDC and Glad Africa games at this iconic facility which was one of the birthplaces of African football in the country.

Molepo concluded, “As the chairperson of the local football body, I would like to thank the City of Joburg for honouring their promises. To me, this is a longstanding dream come true as you might be aware that it has taken us well over 20 years on this engagement.”