CAPE TOWN PEACE CUP SET TO DAZZLE



5 October 2009

Cape Town soccer fans are in for a treat towards the end of the year when the inaugural Cape Town Peace Cup will take place in the Mother City.

The tournament which will feature four local and four international under 19 teams was officially announced at the Athlone Stadium today.

The organizer of the tournament is the South African Peace Conference (SAPC) in cooperation with the Nobel Peace Center (Oslo, Norway) and the City of Cape Town.

International teams that will participate include, Boca Juniors (Argentina), Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany), Chelsea (England) and Stabek (Norway)

The local teams will comprise of Orlando Pirates, Santos, Ajax Cape Town and SuperSport United.

“We are honoured to have this calibre of teams participating in this tournament,” said SAPC CEO, Kjetil Siem.

“The message of peace and harmony needs to be spread across the world through every possible medium, and football can play a huge part in ensuring this.”

Santos chairman Mr Goolam Allie was one of the speakers at a media conference held at Athlone Stadium to announce the event.

Allie spoke of the importance this tournament can have in delivering a message of peace from the Western Cape, while also finding much common ground between the goals and aims of the tournament, and those of Santos’.

“For me it’s a very proud moment. It’s a fantastic moment because Cape Town clubs will be part of this tournament,” said Allie.

“The fact that it is an under-19 tournament is ‘ironic’ in that both Ajax and Santos FC are known for their abilities to develop juniors to the best of their abilities, with or without resources.

“At Santos FC specifically we are very proud of our involvement in soccer and sport, and we share very much in the principles of this tournament: respect, equality, and peace.

“We share in the whole ethos and manner in which football can assist in developing and assisting people holistically. This is what has always driven Santos FC.

“We must take this opportunity to make the community aware that through respect we can achieve. We need to respect each other, on the field, we need to respect our parents and adults, coaches, and ourselves. With self respect we will achieve.

“Santos whole-heartedly supports what this tournament stands for. Cape Town must take the initiative from this tournament and say we are going to drive peace in the province and the country.”

When the Peace Cup kicks off, the Nobel Peace Center will also open its largest ever exhibition, in South Africa’s National Gallery in Cape Town. The exhibition focuses on the four South African Nobel Peace Prize Laureates – Albert Lutuli, Desmond Tutu, Frederik W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela – and their importance for the development of South Africa.

“Football can create a fellowship and brotherhood that transcends national boundaries,” says Nobel Peace Center director, Bente Erichsen.

“Amity between nations was important for Albert Nobel, and it remains important for the Nobel Peace Center and the Peace Prize laureates.”

{This tournament is part of our ongoing partnership between the City of Cape Town and the two local PSL clubs Ajax Cape Town and Santos. The partnership has two elements: firstly to promote soccer and life skills in our local communities and secondly to promote spectator attendance for local PSL soccer at Athlone Stadium. This tournament bring top class international teams to Cape Town every two years. To have this connection with the South African Peace Conference highlights the role soccer can play in uniting people throughout the world and to combat prejudice. Gert Bam ( Director Sport and Recreation)}

The tournament will kick off with the official opening ceremony at the Green Point Stadium on 26 November 2009. The King and Queen of Norway as well as a host of other dignitaries will be present for the ceremony in the morning.

Thereafter proceedings will move to Athlone Stadium for the opening match.

Games will be played at Athlone Stadium, Erica Park (Belhar)and Stephan Regan Stadium in Mitchells plain.

The official draw for the tournament will take place 8 October 2009 in Olso, Norway.