With their first official match the All Star Team of The HollandBelgium Bid today showed the world the full scope of their slogan 'Together for Great Goals'.
In the middle of the township Crossroads in Cape Town, the All Star Team played a friendly match against a team of African Legends. Playing on the Cruyff Court - which was completely refurbished - and introducing the World Coaches concept the Holland/Belgium team exhibited how football can make contributions to a better world.
Hundreds of residents of township Crossroads in Cape Town looked on in amazement when over a dozen soccer world stars kicked off for a friendly in support of the candidature of Belgium and Holland for the FIFA World Cup 2018/2022. The Belgian/Dutch All Star team will travel the world in the next twelve months to focus the attention on the candidature of the neighbouring countries.
The African Legends team with the likes of Dr. Khumalo, Daniel Amokachi, Jay Jay Okocha, Kalusha and Eric Tinkler faced an All Star Team of the HollandBelgium Bid including Gilles De Bilde, Ronald de Boer, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Gert Verheyen and Aron Winter. Unfortunately renowned goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff had to stay on the sideline with an injury.
Former Dutch team captains Ruud Krol and Ruud Gullit acted as coaches of both teams. The match ended in an exciting draw (5-5) and a thrilling penalty shoot out brought the win to the HollandBelgium team when Gilles De Bilde netted the final penalty.
Bringing these stars to the township was not a coincidence, Ruud Gullit admitted after the match.
He is acting as one of the key ambassadors of the HollandBelgium Bid and is aware of the power of football and the impact of a World Cup.
"Belgium and Holland want to host the World Cup and thus contribute to better football and a better world. Football is entertainment and football is hope. When children are young and keen on football they always hope for an international career in football.
"For that reason we asked 60 children to play on the Cruyff Court prior to our All Star match. That is one thing. Our countries have contributed to the success of football. They were co-founders of FIFA, and have had players and coaches working on the quality and the image of the game all over the world. For two countries of that size their World Cup track record is amazing."
Gullit added: "The two countries provide easy access and once you have arrived all stadiums are within easy reach. Having organized the European Championship in 2000 jointly and successfully Belgium and Holland want to prove that hosting the World Cup is not a privilege of the world powers in football. They want to set an example that can be followed by other nations as well."
Before the All Star match, 17 African coaches received their certificates after successfully completing the first World Coaches Course this week. As a gesture of gratitude and appreciation to the African continent the Dutch football association wants to educate 2010 football coaches on the African continent in the next few years and will continue to teach another 2014 football coaches in South America on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
As a contribution to the development of the Crossroads township hosting the event on Thursday, The HollandBelgium Bid made a donation of 10.000 Rand which can be spent on any project of their own choice contributing to the quality of life in Crossroads.
In addition and after consultation with the township leadership The HollandBelgium Bid made a donation in kind as well thus supporting the food programme FeedBack which offers food to minorities in townships.
Source: worldfootballinsider.com/
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