60-hour soccer match
RUIMSIG – Education Through Soccer aims to break Guinness World Record.
How many goals could players score in a 60-hour soccer match? A hundred goals? A thousand goals? Education Through Soccer (ETS) plans to find out.
The Ruimsig-based non-profit organisation aims to break the world record for the longest non-stop six-a-side soccer match. The Guinness World Record for this is 30 hours and 10 minutes, set by Healthy Hearts Alberta players in Canada. It was unofficially beaten by players in Qatar, who apparently played for 40 hours.
But smashing these records will not be a problem, says Stuart Gray of ETS. “There will be tired legs at the end but it is for a good cause and everyone is motivated,” he said.
The attempt has already been officially accepted by Guinness World Records, and will take place at ETS from 6am on 3 November to 6pm on 5 November. The public is invited to come show its support, and sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals and businesses.
ETS hopes to raise R500 000 from the event to construct classrooms on the grounds, where home-schooling will be conducted, and players can do their homework in the afternoons, under supervision. The rooms will be converted into fitness areas in the evenings.
“We focus on education because the scholarships we organise through academies overseas require a certain level of academics,” said ETS founder Lloyd Tuffney. “Many of today’s top players do not have an education or the life skills you learn at school, so they end up squandering their money or being exploited by their agents.” He added that players also need to have a skill to fall back on, if a professional career does not pan out.
The ETS women’s team and social men’s team will play in the record-breaking attempt. “There will be two teams of 14, so six players will be on per team and eight off at a time. Rotation will be about every two hours,” said Gray. The players will not be allowed to leave the grounds, and will pitch tents around the field to eat and sleep in when not playing.
Vox Telecom will record the entire event to make it official, and various media will be present to cover it.
Details: Education Through Soccer, educationthroughsoccer@gmail.com or 060 960 4697.
Related article:
