Programme director
MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Cde Joyce Mashamba
Executive Mayor of Mopani District Cllr Joshua Matlou
Mayor of Greater Tzaneen Municipality Cllr OJ Mushwana
Speaker of Mopani District Municipality Cllr Thabitha Mohlala
Heads of delegations from our neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe and Mozambique Referees and Match Commissioner
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners here present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
* Let me start off by welcoming our teams from Zimbabwe and Mozambique who are here with us to share in the festivities of Africa day in South Africa. We wish to thank the management of the teams, the coaches, the players and supporters who have travelled a long and hard journey to be with us here today. In equal vein, I also extend a hand of friendship to the sports administrators from South African teams - Dynamos and Winners Park for agreeing to take part in this important tournament.
* This is a great day for Limpopo and of Africa as a whole. It represents the fulfilment of a dream which the forefathers of this continent never thought was possible, 46 years ago, when they formed the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa - Ethiopia. Today’s tournament is yet another indicator that we remain brothers and sisters, despite the long distances that keep us apart.
* Our African-hood is matured and has come of age with time. We are happy and privileged to gather in this way today, not as Mozambiqueans, nor Zimbabweans or South Africans, but as simply Africans - united in our quest to rid this continent of xenophobia, diseases and wars.
* Through this soccer tournament, we hope to build ever lasting friendships both on and off the field of play, because we sincerely believe that in actual fact, the peoples of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa are one flesh - and - one blood.
* To this day, we are separated only by colonial borders which remain too artificial to break the family bonds that exist amongst our people. The simply message we want to communicate through this tournament is that we are one people, even though we speak different languages and practice different cultures.
* The reason we have our African brothers participating in these tournament, is because, we believe that no other medium can best unite our people as soccer does. Soccer is a universal language of unity - which cuts across race, culture, geography and ethnicity.
* Few days from now, Programme director, when the Confederation Cup starts, we are sure that Bafana Bafana shall receive the full backing of South Africans, including the support from our fellow African brothers and sisters who are here with us today. We are fully confident that we will continue to receive the same support in June next year, when we host the 2010 Soccer World Cup here in our province. During the entire period of our hosting, we will continue to make sure that the entire games represent the best that can be found on the African continent, both in spirit and through our performance on the field of play.
* We wish every guest a happy stay in Limpopo and hope that you will join us again next year in Polokwane, when we host the mother of all games - the 2010 soccer world cup tournament.
Let the best team wins!
I now declare the tournament officially open! Good luck and thank you!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
24 May 2009
