1 February 2010

By Keotshepile wa Mogotsi

THE dazzling scenery of the Magaliesberg Mountains and the old sites in the central business district of Krugersdorp attracted the under-17 soccer team from China's Shangdong Luneng football club, who picked Mogale City as their training grounds.

The team arrived at OR Tambo International Airport to the east of Mogale City on 21 January for the under-17 Gauteng Future tournament, which took place over one week at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto. According to the team's liaison officer, Jacky Tsang, they had been looking for training grounds for use during the tournament, and were lured by the beauty of Mogale City – with the help of the former chief executive officer of the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Robin Petersen.

Mogale City, officially known as the City of Human Origin, has extensive services, world-class facilities and infrastructure which draw scores of visitors, including international tourists expected in the country for the FIFA World Cup, taking place from 11 June to 11 July.

China's young stars, under the watchful eye of coach Hu Yi Jun, took pleasure in training at the newly built Johanna Botha Stadium, neighbouring the residential area of Burgershoop in Krugersdorp West. It has two fields for either football or rugby, and will be considered as one of the stadiums to be used when the City hosts the tournament.

Mogale City's rich history and its geographical location form an enticing package that suits the different needs of visitors from all corners of the world. Named for Chief Mogale wa Mogale, the last pre-colonial leader to rule over a region spanning from Hartbeespoort to Magaliesburg, the city was established over the continental watershed that divides the catchment areas of the Limpopo and Vaal rivers.

This watershed forms the border between two areas with diverse topographic characteristics. To the north are varying deep ravines and terraces. Several nature reserves have been established in the area, such as the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.

The most familiar place in the city is Maropeng, which includes the Sterkfontein Cave. Anthropologists and prehistorians throughout the world agree that this is one of the most important scientific sites connected to the history of human evolution. The Kromdraai area, which includes the caves, was declared a world heritage site, known as the Cradle of Humankind, because of its scientific importance.

The Shangdoung team were not the only visitors from China: in 2007, the executive mayor of Wujiang Municipality, Fan Jiankun, was in town to cement relations with Mogale City to help develop local farmers. In 2006, the two municipalities signed a bilateral agreement to create opportunities in cross cultural exchange programmes.

During the tournament, the Chinese under-17 team, led by its top goal scorer, Wu Xing Han, engaged with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Tshwane Select Team, Gauteng Select and other teams involved – from Tunisia, Zimbabwe, United States, Ireland, India, Brazil, France and Team Gauteng. According to Petersen, the tournament organisers are still engaged in talks with Mogale City to host the tournament in the city. "This tournament will expose young soccer players to soccer opportunities, coaching clinics, Gauteng Skills Search Competition and they will also interact with foreign players."

Mogale City regards the promotion of tourism as one of its chief priorities. Apart from these negations, it is prepared to accommodate visitors during the World Cup and has created an investor-friendly environment by delivering affordable and efficient services and promoting balanced multisectoral economic growth based on free-market principles.