Titled the ANC CENTENARY REGGIO EMILIA HIP SOCCER CHALLENGE the event formed an integral part of the celebrations.
As a sporting challenge this event integrated the strong cultural sporting heritage of South Africans
and Italians. A soccer challenge also characterizes adversity followed by victory and then continued sportsmanship and friendship. This captured the relationship between the ANC and Reggio. This soccer match also provided an opportunity to honour many of our soccer legends, almost all of whom played under difficult conditions imposed by Apartheid and who literally played for a pittance. During these dark years these soccer legends often provided a small spark and something to look forward to in the suppressed masses.
The challenge wasl played out between the ANC Centenary Aces, coached by Jomo Sono and captained by Kgalema "Wizzard" Motlanthe and the Reggio Emilia Legends, coached by the Italian Ambassador to SA and captained by Giussepe Dossena, a member of the famous 1982 Italian World Cup winning squad. Dossena accumulated 39 caps for Italy and played for esteemed clubs such as Torino, Udinese and Sampdoria. He later coached the national teams of Ghana and Albania. Other politicians and legends that played on the day include Paul Mashatile, Teenage Dladla, Mark Fish, Phil Masinga, Martin Cohen, City Late Neo Lichaba, Computer Lamola, Happy Cow Nkomo and others.
The soccer challenge was preceded by a number of schools soccer finals and the ANC centenary flame, which will reached the Alex stadium at around 1pm
The Full programme:
Sunday 21 October 2012
08h00 : Gates Open
09h30 : Primary School Challenge (U13s)
Pholosho Primary vs Ikage
Trophy presentation
10h30 : Girls Football Challenge
Alex Ladies and Banyana ba Alex
Trophy presentation
11h45 : Final of the High School Challenge
Meadowlands Challenge Winner vs Alex High
Trophy presentation
13h35 : Alex Masters Challenge
Trophy presentation
15h10 : Line-ups in tunnel
ANC Centenary Flame; Players, 40 mascots, refs
15h15 : Players enter field
ANC walk to left, Reggio walk to the right
Line-ups refs in middle
15h20 : Introduction of Masters & Veterans for the ANC Centenary
Reggio Emilia HIP Soccer Challenge
1 minutes silence for Thomas Madigage
Welcoming: Mpho Moerane - Regional Chair of Alexandra ANC
Sponsors Mario Morfou Lakama
Acknowledements by HIP Chairman Stavros Nicolaou
David Makhura ( Provincial Secretary of the ANC in Gauteng)
Introduction of teams and players
Italians to line-up as per team sheet
Provincial Chair of the ANC Paul Mashatile and HIP Executives Stavros Nicolaou and Maurizio
Mariano introduce the deputy President to all the players
Singing of the National Anthems
15h45 : First Half of Challenge Commences (30 minutes)
16h15 : Halftime (10 minutes)
" Entertainment by Condry Xiqubu
16h25 : Second Half of Challenge Commences (30 minutes)
16h55 : Fulltime - Penalty Shoot-out if necessary
17h05 : Presentation Ceremony
Slow, Brian Tlale and Paul Mashatile
Losers medals
Winners medals
Presentation of Birthday Cake to Paul Mashatile
Winning Trophy handover by Paul Mashatile
Confetti Cannon
17h15 : Programme Ends
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