World Cup stadium relies on Rotherham experts

CONSTRUCTION experts from Rotherham have helped bring the World Cup spectacle to life in South Africa.

Macalloy has supplied threaded bar and cable systems to Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, which will host the final on July 11.

The rods form cross bracing which strengthens the outer wall structure of the ground, which has been designed to look like a calabash—an African pot.

The Dinnington-based company has also supplied tendons for the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, where four first round matches are being played, including Italy’s clash with New Zealand on Sunday.

Each roof support at Mbombela has been built to resemble a giraffe, as the stadium has been built close to the Kruger National Park.

South Africa is not Macalloy’s first World Cup. Four years’ ago the firm supplied tie rods to act as bracing at the Olympia Stadion in Berlin, venue for the 2006 final.

The firm moved to its Caxton Way base the same year, and has seen export earnings jump 124 per cent in six years.

In April the company was awarded the Queen’s Award for International Trade for the second time.