Facility Notes: Ronaldo Says Maracanã 'Not Fully Ready'

Former Brazil footballer Ronaldo admitted that Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã stadium was "not fully ready for Sunday's Brazil-England friendly." The match marked "the reopening of the iconic venue after almost three years of refurbishment work" costing more than $500M, "double the original budget." Ronaldo: "Maybe work surrounding the stadium will not be finished, but there won't be any problem for the Confederations Cup" (XINHUA, 6/1). ... South Africa's Gauteng provincial government has allocated R10M ($990,000) for the refurbishment of the Bob van Reenen Stadium in Mogale City. This is the same facility that Premier Soccer League Kaizer Chiefs "had earlier earmarked for use as their future home." The project "was later put on hold" (SOWETAN LIVE, 5/31).