Sundowns / Barcelona FC: Building a legacy of quality football beyond 2010
Pretoria 12 June… Patrice Motsepe, owner of the Mamelodi Sundowns football team, today answered the burning question on the minds of exuberant South African football fans, when he announced that BFC star players Ronaldinho, Ito and a host of other BFC stars will be in the team line up for the BFC / Sundowns game scheduled for 20 June in Tshwane, Pretoria, South Africa. Before a full house of national and international media, the Deputy Ambassador of Spain, Mr. Luis Angel Redondo, the provincial Minister of Sport and Arts and Culture, Ms. Barbara Creecy, the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane and officials of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and UNICEF, Mr. Motsepe said he was extremely honoured that the Spanish football giant had agreed to play the South African Sundowns, which would raise the level of competitive sport in South Africa and help establish "a positive mood" in the run up tot he much anticipated 2010 FIFA World Cup. But Mr. Motsepe also stressed that he upcoming football game with one of the world's best teams would help build a legacy of quality football for young South Africans far beyond 2010.
Ten promising young players from each of South Africa's nine provinces will be invited to the game to observe and learn from BFC in action. Another 100 tickets will be provided to enable disadvantaged young South Africans from the Tshwane city surrounds to watch the game. Deputy Ambassador Redondo spoke of Barcelona's outstanding sports record, but also of their well known humanitarian work and social responsibility programmes through their Foundation and its strong ties with UNICEF. Amidst the blare of the infamous South African horn, the vuvuzela, a special photo op featuring an exchange of BFC and MFC club jerseys with the Mayor, Minister, Deputy Ambassador and Mr. Motsepe brought the press conference to a close.
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