If the mini-launch of the Football for Humanity matches hosted by Safa Cape Town in conjunction with the Sport Stepping Stones (SSS) is anything to go by, then the Home of Soccer, Athlone Stadium ought to be bumper-packed for the historical friendly matches between two SA Invitational teams and the Palestine national team – just as this venue did during the dark days of apartheid breaking down barriers through sport.
This follows after a very decent turnout at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday when the news of the upcoming matches was officially announced with the who’s who of who, as well as clergymen such as Reverend Rodney Whiteman and Moulana Appleby in attendance to bless proceedings.
The Cape’s Mother Body in conjunction with SSS is spearheading the Humanity for Football campaign, under the banner of ‘Hope, Peace and Solidarity’ to help bring an end to the conflict in Gaza through the beautiful game of football.
Hence Safa and especially SSS’s CEO Boebie Cassiem, who is also the liaison officer for Palestine, are working around the clock to ensure that the two matches to be played on the 11th and 18th of February at the Athlone Stadium will have the desired impact and help bring about change in the Middle-East.
Safa CT’s president and vice-president of Safa National, Bennett Bailey has also confirmed that the City of Cape Town will come on board following the attendance of Jan-Jan Joubert, spokesperson for the MEC for Sport and Cultural Affairs Arnoux Marais, at the event.
Bailey has vehemently reiterated when he echoed Cassiem’s sentiments that football protocol will trump every political statement for the upcoming Freedom Cup between the SA Invitational XI and Palestine.
Bailey explained: “Now, we understand the politics which are out there but in terms of football protocol that becomes something else and that was the conversation Boebie had as well. He said if football protocol dictates the Mayor must go be involved in the meet and greet and the MEC must go with the meet and greet, then that will trump everything else,” Bailey said.
“Obviously, we cannot go there with a person who carries a political hat from a party. In this instance it’s an institution they are representing and we must always respect the institutions, not the party that is there,” Bailey added.
Meanwhile, the spectacle on the field will see the Palestinian national men’s team first coming up against a hand-picked Western Cape outfit, preceded by an opener by two champions women’s teams, Dangerous Heroes against Magic Ladies.
The second match-up is between a South African Invitational XI that will square off against the Palestinian team.
The Cape soccer legend and technical director of Safa CT, Boebie Solomons will take charge of the team and will be assisted by other former SA greats in Jomo Sono and Farouk Abrahams.
Solomons confirmed that Fifa and Safa National have already given the green light for the spectacle.
“We have now reached the point where the invite for the Palestinian team has been accepted,” Solomons confirmed.
“Yesterday, we had a call from the President of the Palestine Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, and everything is in place for them to arrive on 8 February,” Solomons concluded.
