Soccer legends join 2010 road shows

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Polokwane - Former Bafafa Bafana stars have joined the provincial road shows aimed at getting local people to support the province's hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Limpopo's 2010 co-ordinator, Seipati Tlaka, said the road shows, which are currently taking place countrywide, will receive a huge boost when 2010 ambassadors and football legends, Doctor Khumalo, Phil Masinga and Desiree Ellis come to the province to support the initiative on Friday and Saturday.

"The mass mobilisation and the legacy programme are aimed at using soccer as a catalyst for community development, to address issues of youth empowerment and to mobilise people to support the province during the games," said Tlaka.

She said the road shows will see the 2010 ambassadors, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the 2010 World Cup Organising Committee, a German technical committee, the provincial 2010 coordinating unit and municipalities joining hands to make sure the programme reaches many people, especially those in rural areas.

Tlaka said during the road shows, information on government's preparations for the world cup and match information will be distributed.

"Soccer balls and other promotional material will be distributed and there will be soccer clinics for local soccer fanatics."

She said the soccer lessons, which will be provided by the likes of Khumalo, Masinga and Mark Fish, are key in building the sport towards and beyond 2010.

The first road show in Limpopo will take place at the Mohodi sports grounds, near Dendron, in the Molemole Local Municipality, on Friday, followed by the second show at the Mapela sports grounds near Mokopane, in the Magalekwena Local Municipality on Saturday. Both events start at 10am.