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8 July 2010
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Tshwane Business and Agricultural Corporation Chief Executive Officer Wim du Toit and Chilean Ambassador Francisco Maramdio planted trees to commemorate scoring teams during the World Cup matches played in Tshwane. |
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A goal lane of champions to commemorate the 19 goals scored in Tshwane during the six games of the World Cup that took place at Loftus Versfeld, has been established at the Tshwane Events Centre.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Tshwane Business and Agricultural Corporation, Wim du Toit says the lane of champions immortalises the nine teams - Ghana, Uruguay, Denmark, Cameroon, the USA, Chile, Spain, Paraguay and Japan - that scored.
The other participating teams were Serbia, South Africa and Algeria.
"South Africa has maximised this wonderful opportunity - the World Cup - to the fullest. More than one million people came to our country in the last month and more than 32 billion people over the globe saw what we had to offer on television. The mouths of the critics - here and abroad - have certainly been silenced. This has indeed been an African World Cup of note."
Officially opening the goal lane of champions today, Du Toit said as an integral part of the economic and social development of the City of Tshwane, the centre is committed to leaving a living legacy of the history that was made in South Africa's capital city.
"We felt it fit to honour those countries and players by immortalising their names in this permanent goal lane of champions. For generations to come, visitors to the Tshwane Events Centre will be able to rekindle the memories of one of the greatest experiences in South Africa and in Tshwane.
"However, the lane of champions goes beyond an ordinary monument. It contributes towards a sustainable environment - hence the planting of 19 indigenous trees. Apart from immortalising the winning goals in mortar and metal, the trees will assist in reducing the carbon footprint that events like the World Cup generate."
Du Toit says the centre's commitment to a sustainable environment is not new.
"When the greening of events centres became the norm, we took the lead and today we recycle more than 20 tons of waste every year via a four-recycle system - cans, glass, paper and plastic.
"Besides the centre's grass cuttings, the nine tons of hay and animal waste generated during one of the centre's largest events - the Tshwane International Show - are used as food for the 45 000 earth worms at the centre's new earth worm farm. The farm generates much-needed vermi-compost to nurture the extensive grass areas and more than 600 indigenous trees on the 39-hectare property.
"The construction of a biodiesel and gas plant is in the offing, while a nursery is being built to grow seeds from the vast array of plants and trees.
"Experiments on new products such as led fluorescent lighting aimed at bringing down electricity consumption are also part of the greening exercise.
"In 2010 we are operating green offices with less paper and electrical consumption, using battery and electric vehicles on site, building a grey water catchment dam, buying green where possible and will measure and report on our sustainable green progress.
"Today is thus also reaffirming our commitment to go even greener. We are finalising our environmental management strategy and will announce this in the near future. And you will be our judges, so watch this space," Du Toit said.
Games played in Tshwane
- 13 June 2010 - Ghana won Serbia 1-0
- 16 June 2010 - Uruguay won South Africa 3-0
- 19 June 2010 - Denmark won Cameroon 2-1
- 23 June 2010 - USA won Algeria 1-0
- 25 June 2010 - Spain won Chile 2-1
- 29 June 2010 Paraguay won Japan 5-3
Goal scorers
- Ghana - Asamoah Gyan
- Uruguay - Diego Forlan
- Uruguay - Diego Forlan
- Uruguay - Alvaro Pereira
- Denmark - Dennis Rommedahl
- Denmark - Nicklas Bendtner
- Cameroon - Samuel Etoo
- USA - Landon Donovan
- Spain - David Villa
- Spain - Andres Iniesta
- Chile - Rodrigo Millar
- Paraguay - Edgar Barreto
- Paraguay - Lucas Barrios
- Paraguay - Cristian Riveros
- Paraguay - Nelson Haedo Valdéz
- Paraguay - Oscar Cardozo
- Japan -Yasuhito Endo
- Japan - Makuto Hasebe
- Japan - Keisuke Honda
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