For the first time in South African football history, the country is set to host the Star Sixes Six-A-Side International Football Tournament.
This event will be organised by local company The Marketing and Events Firm in conjunction with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and British-based, Pitch International which has been running the tournament.
Pitch International is a London-based sports marketing company that manages Star Sixes and also oversees Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur, the Argentina and Brazil national teams.
This cooperation could pave the way for friendly matches between Bafana Bafana and the national teams of Argentina and Brazil, as well as South African clubs facing English giants Liverpool and Tottenham.
The Chairman of the committee and CEO of The Marketing and Events Firm, Luyanda Papu, told Soccer Laduma that Pitch International is bringing Star Sixes to Africa and Mzansi for the first time. Steven Pienaar will be among the South African legends participating in the tournament, alongside international stars like Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Jay-Jay Okocha, Carles Puyol, Alessandro Del Piero, Michael Ballack, Robert Pires, and Rivaldo, to name a few.
"The Marketing Events Firm has been running the Local Football Festive Tournament called New Years Cup since 2016 successfully to date, and we recently partnered with one of the best private schools St. Andrew's College for a SAFA D License Coaching Course, training 36 local coaches with Rugby Traditional School and now we sealed the partnership deal with UK, London based marketing agency company Pitch International. This partnership will create a fertile ground for national team's (Bafana Bafana) to compete on the international stage for friendlies with the likes of Brazil and Argentina something that has been lacking for a long time," Papu told Soccer Laduma.
Papu further stated that Pitch International manages other international teams, and they will be working with SAFA to ensure high-profile friendlies going forward.
"We are working around the clock to bring the best countries to play Bafana. There are plans in place to host the Star Sixes International Six Aside Tournament in Johannesburg October-November 2024 and The Marketing and Events Firm is a local organiser. We are due to meet Gauteng Premier Mr (Panyaza) Lesufi and the Minister of Sport (Gayton McKenzie) before jetting off to London, UK for more lined up projects in London and South Africa to work on helping improve our national team while working together with Pitch International," Papi observed.
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