Workers at the new Cape Town stadium, like thousands of other Capetonians, are in the grip of ‘football fever’.

They won’t win the 2010 World Cup, but the stadium football team are a proud lot and are holding top spot in the construction workers’ league. Last year they beat 42 other construction teams in Gauteng to win the national trophy.

“Every evening after work we practise for an hour on the Green Point common outside the stadium,” says Babalo Mfundisi, an engineer who manages the team. “On 10 October we travel to Johannesburg and we hope to win again this year.”

Judging by their dedication, the team should have a good chance of repeating their feat. Apart from their daily practise session, they also play against other construction teams at weekends.

The team wear the red and yellow colours of the stadium contractors, and appreciate the financial assistance offered by their employer, who will pay for their travel, food and accommodation expenses on their pilgrimage to Johannesburg.

Babalo says the players have learned all about the importance of team work during construction of the stadium.

“We work well together, both at the stadium and on the football field. We are confident that the trophy will be ours once again.”