Reconciliation Challenge is here!

Posted on December 06, 2011 11:21

Football and Rugby fans in the Free State are in for a special treat next weekend when Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars as well as Toyota Cheetahs and Tasol Griffons cross swords in the inaugural Reconciliation Challenge.

The Free State based rugby and soccer teams will square up in what is promising to be thrilling games at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 10 December 2011.

The historic event will also feature curtain raisers involving supporters of the participating rugby and soccer teams. Premier Ace Magashule, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Dan Kgothule and Free State Rugby Managing Director Haroldt Verster will referee the soccer and rugby curtain raisers.

The historic event is organised by the Free State provincial government in partnership with the Free State soccer and rugby teams to mark this year’s National Day of Reconciliation. Entrance is free of charge.

The Day of Reconciliation is held annually on 16 December to foster reconciliation and national unity. Members of the Free State Executive Committee, Mayors and a large contigent of local and international media will grace the event.

As part of the build up to the rugby and soccer extravaganza, the Free State provincial government has also organised a 5-kilometre Reconciliation Walk which will take place on Friday, 9 December 2011.

Premier Magashule, MECs, Mayors and players from teams participating in the Reconciliation Challenge, public servants and the general public will take part in the Reconciliation Walk.

The 5-kilometre walk will start at the University of Free State and end at Poelanong Monument at the Bram Fischer Building (Glass Place) on Nelson Mandela Drive. The Reconciliation Walk will be followed by Reconciliation Parade by players of the participating team. Speaking ahead of the event, Premier Magashule said the Reconciliation Challange is part of the Free State government’s quest to promote social cohesion, nation building and sport tourism in the province.

“Sport has played a pivotal role in national unity and social cohesion. We believe in the power of sport to remove lines of division in our society. We believe this annual Reconciliation Challenge will help to build human solidarity amongst Free Staters. We are also using this as an opportunity to carry on with the legacy of the Fifa 2010 World Cup to encourage continued support our sport and to mobilise our people behind the vision of a winning nation,” Magashule said.