President Jacob Zuma is greatly honoured to have the opportunity to play in the Special Olympics Unity Cup which will take place in Cape Town before the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter final match on 3 July 2010.
President Zuma, as captain of his team, will lead an illustrious list of celebrities and football legends who will participate alongside 16 Special Olympics athletes. He will rely on former Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe for tips.
“I am excited to participate in the first unity cup so that I can witness firsthand the skill of the Special Olympics athletes, share their joy and demonstrate the importance of inclusion to leaders from all over the world. This World Cup tournament has been so exciting that I felt I cannot miss an opportunity to get onto the pitch myself,” said President Zuma.
President Zuma will participate to demonstrate that South Africa is committed to ensuring that the freedom that was won in 1994 is enjoyed by all South Africans, including those with intellectual disabilities who even today, around the world, are denied access to education, sports, healthcare and employment. The President’s participation also demonstrates that the South African government in partnership with Special Olympics South Africa, which is chaired by Dr Matthews Phosa, is committed to building a nation of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion.
President Zuma’s squad comprises the following:
* Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and Special Olympics Global Ambassador
* Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend and Global Ambassador
* Lucas Radebe, former Leeds and South African player; former South African National Football Team captain
* Alan Shearer, former New Castle United and all-time Premier League goal scorer
* Clarence Seedorf, of AC Milan
* Desiree Ellis, former captain of South Africa’s National Women’s Football Team and FIFA Ambassador for 2010
* Teofilo Cubillas, South American Player of the Year
* Lorrie Fair, first American woman to play in Premier Women’s League and played on USA World Cup Championship Team in 1999
* Kevin Keegan, player and former coach of several football teams in England, and manager of Newcastle United
* Christian Kerembeu, player on France national team from 1992-2002 and on FIFA World Cup Championship team
* Hidetoshi Nakata, Asia Player of the Year, AC Roma
* Enrique Borja, Mexican striker for Mexican National team from 1966-1975
* Steve Sumner, former New Zealand ‘All Whites’ captain.
The unity cup will promote the importance of ensuring that individuals with intellectual disabilities are included both on and off the sports field, in their homes, schools and communities.
The Special Olympics Unity Cup, a 20 minute match, will take place at 2h00 pm. Soccer fans are urged to arrive early at the stadium so as not to miss the special curtain raiser.
Background: Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organisation that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to nearly 3.5 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs.
Enquiries:
Vincent Magwenya
Cell: 072 715 0024
Ancilla Smith
Tel: 011 783 8533
E-mail: asmith@specialolympics.org.
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/)
