Pretoria - Youngsters from around the capital are to take part in an annual soccer festival hosted by Latin American and Caribbean embassies, as part of the build-up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Latin American and Caribbean Cup will be held on Saturday at the University of Pretoria's Groenkloof Campus.
The championship is endorsed by South Africa's Department of Foreign Affairs and made possible with the support of the FIFA 2010 Local Organising Committee, the State Information Technology Agency, Pick 'n Pay and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Embassies (GRULAC).
This championship, currently in its 7th year since inception, aims to provide opportunities to foreign missions in South Africa to make a social contribution to the youngsters of Pretoria.
Fifteen primary school soccer teams in the under-13 category have been invited to participate in this 1-day tournament where they will each represent a country as well as South Africa at this Championship.
The GRULAC countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, M,xico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The 2010 World Cup Ambassadors, Lucas Radebe, Phil Masinga and Mark Fish will attend the championship to interact with the youngsters and offer words of wisdom and encouragement.
"This Championship has grown from strength to strength over the past seven years contributing to the development of our country's youngsters and improving sport, educational, and cultural links between the people of South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean" said Louis Taylor, a representative from OTB Sport, organisers of this event.
Each player receives the kit played in on the day, which is a replica of the national team jersey as well as medals and certificates. The winners and runners up walk away with cash prizes which can be used at the school's discretion to bring about improvements at their schools.
The Embassies will be represented as follows:
The Embassies will be represented as follows:
1) Argentina will be represented by Lowe Middle School from Garankuwa
2) Brazil will be represented by Bud-mbele Primary from Atteridgeville
3) Chile will be represented by Kromhoek Primary from Umzimkulu
4) Cuba will be represented by Dikgakologo Primary from Winterveldt
5) Colombia will be represented by Morula View from Mabopane
6) Jamaica will be represented by Sinetjhudu Primary from Kwaggafontein
7) Mexico will be represented by Jakaranda Primary from Eersterust
8) Panama will be represented by PS Fourie from Eersterust
9) Paragauy will be represented by Hamilton Primary, Pretoria
10) Peru will be represented by St. Martin de Porres Catholic School from Soweto
11) South Africa will be represented by Sunnyside Primary, Pretoria
12) Suriname will be represented by Khensani Primary from Soshanguve
13) Trinidad & Tobago will be represented by Kgabo Primary from Attridgeville
14) Uruguay will be represented by Haakdoorn Primary from Heilbron
15) Venezuela will be represented by Mahlasedi Masana Primary, from Mamelodi
The day's events will start at 8.30 and 34 matches will have been played by the time of the closing ceremony at 15.00.
Pretoria is set to host 2010 FIFA World Cup matches at Loftus Stadium in less than three years' time.
Loftus Stadium is currently being refurbished to meet FIFA's requirements.
World Cup fixtures will be played in ten stadia across the country.
Five venues are being renovated to comply with FIFA's requirements and five others are to be built from scratch.
Construction has started on all the five arenas to be newly built.
Renovations to four of the stadiums set to host 2010 fixtures would be complete by December 2008.
Along with Loftus, the other arenas to be refurbished are Vodacom Park in Mangaung, Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg and Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Stadia to be completed by October 2009, are Mbombela in Nelspruit, Peter Mokaba (Polokwane), Nelson Mandela Bay, Green Point (Cape Town) Moses Mabhida (Durban) and Soccer City in Johannesburg.
The Latin American and Caribbean Cup will be held on Saturday at the University of Pretoria's Groenkloof Campus.
The championship is endorsed by South Africa's Department of Foreign Affairs and made possible with the support of the FIFA 2010 Local Organising Committee, the State Information Technology Agency, Pick 'n Pay and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Embassies (GRULAC).
This championship, currently in its 7th year since inception, aims to provide opportunities to foreign missions in South Africa to make a social contribution to the youngsters of Pretoria.
Fifteen primary school soccer teams in the under-13 category have been invited to participate in this 1-day tournament where they will each represent a country as well as South Africa at this Championship.
The GRULAC countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, M,xico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The 2010 World Cup Ambassadors, Lucas Radebe, Phil Masinga and Mark Fish will attend the championship to interact with the youngsters and offer words of wisdom and encouragement.
"This Championship has grown from strength to strength over the past seven years contributing to the development of our country's youngsters and improving sport, educational, and cultural links between the people of South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean" said Louis Taylor, a representative from OTB Sport, organisers of this event.
Each player receives the kit played in on the day, which is a replica of the national team jersey as well as medals and certificates. The winners and runners up walk away with cash prizes which can be used at the school's discretion to bring about improvements at their schools.
The Embassies will be represented as follows:
The Embassies will be represented as follows:
1) Argentina will be represented by Lowe Middle School from Garankuwa
2) Brazil will be represented by Bud-mbele Primary from Atteridgeville
3) Chile will be represented by Kromhoek Primary from Umzimkulu
4) Cuba will be represented by Dikgakologo Primary from Winterveldt
5) Colombia will be represented by Morula View from Mabopane
6) Jamaica will be represented by Sinetjhudu Primary from Kwaggafontein
7) Mexico will be represented by Jakaranda Primary from Eersterust
8) Panama will be represented by PS Fourie from Eersterust
9) Paragauy will be represented by Hamilton Primary, Pretoria
10) Peru will be represented by St. Martin de Porres Catholic School from Soweto
11) South Africa will be represented by Sunnyside Primary, Pretoria
12) Suriname will be represented by Khensani Primary from Soshanguve
13) Trinidad & Tobago will be represented by Kgabo Primary from Attridgeville
14) Uruguay will be represented by Haakdoorn Primary from Heilbron
15) Venezuela will be represented by Mahlasedi Masana Primary, from Mamelodi
The day's events will start at 8.30 and 34 matches will have been played by the time of the closing ceremony at 15.00.
Pretoria is set to host 2010 FIFA World Cup matches at Loftus Stadium in less than three years' time.
Loftus Stadium is currently being refurbished to meet FIFA's requirements.
World Cup fixtures will be played in ten stadia across the country.
Five venues are being renovated to comply with FIFA's requirements and five others are to be built from scratch.
Construction has started on all the five arenas to be newly built.
Renovations to four of the stadiums set to host 2010 fixtures would be complete by December 2008.
Along with Loftus, the other arenas to be refurbished are Vodacom Park in Mangaung, Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg and Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Stadia to be completed by October 2009, are Mbombela in Nelspruit, Peter Mokaba (Polokwane), Nelson Mandela Bay, Green Point (Cape Town) Moses Mabhida (Durban) and Soccer City in Johannesburg.
- By Lavinia Mahlangu BuaNews
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