(June 11, 2010) The Catholic Church of South Africa has organised an international
soccer tournament to run alongside the FIFA World Cup that was inaugurated on Thursday.
Antoine Soubrier of the Communications Office for the Southern African Catholic Bishops
Conference (SACBC) told Fides that they have organized a parallel World Cup, to compliment
the official one, with the soccer teams from all the realities of South Africa, from
the poor townships to the more affluent neighborhoods. It will bring together fans
of different social classes, different ethnicities, and national origins as well as
fans from all over the world. Dubbed “Soccer Peace Tournament” it includes 64 players
from about 15 countries who will play every Saturday morning, on a locally designed
football pitch in the poorest part of the township. Soubrier said that four teams
will be created out of the two best teams of Atteridgeville, Pretoria, migrants living
in South Africa and fans coming for the World Cup. The final will take place on July
3. The South Africans can get to know each other better, Soubrier said, adding they
are placing much hope in this initiative to promote peace and understanding among
all. The “Soccer Peace Tournament” of the Catholic Church in South Africa can be
followed on its website, www.churchontheball.com.