All set for anti-xenophobia derby

The organizers of the Ubuntu (Humanity) derby held a press briefing at the Central Methodist Church on Tuesday. Former Central Methodist Church of Southern Africa Bishop Dr Paul Verryn says the world cup united people of all colour, creed and tribal backgrounds so they are also using soccer to spread the message of love. Paul Verryn says they want to maintain the excitement and togetherness generated by the world cup and take it to another level.

We want to celebrate Africas diversity. Africa is not monochromatic , it has got different cultures and drum beats, thus we are encouraging tolerance. We are encouraging humanity and not wars against one another. We are longing for a relationship where South Africans and Zimbabweans see each other as a family, as brothers and sisters. We hope for that interaction at different levels. We send our solidarity to the Zimbabweans that they are welcome in South Africa as fellow human beings and also as brothers and sisters says Dr Verryn.

Paul Verryn says the match between the two teams is to give a red card to xenophobia. The Southern African Womens Institute of Migration Affairs (SAWINA) director Joyce Dube says they want to use soccer to bond the two nations and other people of the world. Ms Dube says, Soccer unites people, even enemies, so we want to use soccer to boot out xenophobia. We decided to ask Jomo Sono to be our ambassador against xenophobia because he has got a passion for the community and for the people

The Jomo Sonos assistant coach Heldier Muianga says that they are fully behind the anti-xenophobia drive. He states that they are not going to the match to win any trophy but to send a message of peace and love in order to boot xenophobia out of the minds of many people. Mr. Muianga says the 2010 world cup saw Africans rallying behind Ghana and says that spirit has to be maintained. Heldier says soccer forges links and it should be used against xenophobia which he says is a disgraceful shame for South Africa after hosting a successful world cup.

Proceeds from the Highlanders (Bosso) and Jomo Cosmos (Ezenkosi) will go towards the repatriation of foreigners programmes and 20% will go to the Central Methodist Church of Southern Africa. The match is organized by SAWIMA, Action for Conflict Transformation and Population Council. Officials from the Zimbabwe Consulate office in Johannesburg, Congress of the South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), representative of the South African government, South African Council of Churches and other non governmental organizations are expected to attend. Highlanders will arrive in Johannesburg on Friday evening. Entrance fees are open ground R20, grand stand R30 and VIP R50. Joyce Dube says there will be some entertainment before the match and people from different countries are invited to attend.