Nelson Mandela Bay has now received its allocation of close to R900-million of the R14,9-billion which the national treasury announced two weeks ago for the construction and upgrading of 2010 World Cup stadiums and related aspects by the nine host cities.

The municipality received an official letter from the national treasury this week confirming the allocation. Municipal manager Graham Richards said yesterday that the money would be released in batches over a three year period.

"We have been allocated close to what we asked for as the local organising committee. It comes as a conditional grant ? conditional because it has to be used solely for stadium construction, and not for other uses."

Cape Town announced this week that it had received R1,9-billion. Construction of the new stadiums should start by January next year and Richards says they are on schedule.

The 40 000-seater multi-purpose Nelson Mandela Bay stadium will be built in North End at an estimated cost of R711-million and should be completed by 2008. Its structural fitness will be tested in 2009 when it hosts the Confederations Cup which will feature teams from Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Among the five venues to host the Confederations Cup ? Loftus, Ellis Park, Mangaung and Royal Bafokeng ? Nelson Mandela Bay is the only venue to be getting a new stadium.

Afro-pessimism is a major challenge identified since South Africa was selected to be the host of the 2010 World Cup. However, Fifa has on numerous occasions reiterated that the country will host the "best World Cup", even better than this year's event.

Five road-construction tenders have already been awarded, with many more in the process of being awarded in preparation for the event. The five are the upgrading of Diaz and Pearl roads and the linking of Avenue A and Matomela and Seyisi roads in New Brighton and KwaZakhele.

"The three will form one of the feeder roads for buses and taxis," said municipal assistant transport manager Greg Pryce-Lewis, adding that these contracts were valued at about R50-million.

Last week, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal committee tasked with preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup vowed to resign if Port Elizabeth's soccer stadium was not complete by the end of 2008. Tenders for the construction of the stadium close at the end of this month.

Prospective tenderers were taken on a site inspection tour last week.