JOHANNESBURG – South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan and Mamelodi Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe will be guests of honour at Sunday’s El Clasico encounter between champions Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The two South African football leaders will join international football elite in Barcelona, Spain for the showdown on Sunday. They will be accompanied to Spain by La Liga Africa director, Antonio Barradas.
Safa have built strong ties with Spanish football since Spain won their first Fifa World Cup title at FNB Stadium in July 2010.
This was strengthened with Jordaan signing a Cooperation Agreement with La Liga.
Grassroots football has benefited immensely through this partnership. This programme has also supported Safa Regions and various Local Football Associations (LFAs).
Among beneficiaries of the programmes are LFAs in Kuruman, Grahamstown, Meadowlands, Alex and Ladysmith among various LFAs.
During the Safa delegation’s visit last year to the Spanish capital, the Nelson Mandela Centenary celebrations were discussed, with the La Liga showing great interest in being part of celebrations in honour of South Africa’s Father of the Nation.
Safa want to deepen and strengthen this relationship, and this invitation provides the platform for this engagement.
The Barcelona/Real Madrid match has generated a lot of interest, with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos insisting this week that there will be no guard of honour for Barcelona winning the league title, adding Barca’s achievement on the domestic front was less than the Uefa Champions League.