In what is already shaping up to be their most successful season yet, Hout Bay United Football Community (HBUFC) have landed another coup in the form of current Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who will be the keynote speaker at a fund-raiser next week.
At the Bay Harbour Market on Wednesday November 8, a limited number of ticket-holders and members of the Hout Bay community will get to spend an evening with the football legend in aid of the HBUFC Trust.
“We aim to unify this community through ‘the beautiful game’, and this event will do just that, as well as empower us with monetary resources to keep making a difference,” said HBUFC co-founder and trustee, Jeremy Elson.
“We are here for all people, of all ability, no matter where they live or where they’re from, and we are humbled and excited that a coach of this calibre is going out of his way to aid us in our cause.”
There are 50 tickets to the event up for grabs at HBUFC’s match against. The Magic FC at the Hout Bay Sports Complex, from 7.30pm tonight, Friday November 3.
Klopp’s involvement is a result of one of the HBUFC players working as an intern at his management agency, which is how he learnt of what the club is doing in Hout Bay.
The charismatic Klopp led Borussia Dortmund to successive Bundesliga titles in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons and enjoyed a seven-year stint with the German giants.
He joined Liverpool in 2015, and last year ensured the Reds reached the Europa league final and secured themselves a Champions League spot after a fourth-place finish in the English Premier League.
The 50-year-old German, who was also a professional footballer in his playing days, is known for his animated behaviour on the sidelines, but equally so for his benevolence off the pitch.
It has been a magnificent season for HBUFC to date. The senior men’s team lie in third position in the ABC Motsepe League, only three points adrift of log-leaders Ace FC. The HBUFC women’s team have also guaranteed a top-three finish in their league to win promotion to the SAFA development league, while earlier this month, the under-18s won the Coke Cup.
During the fund-raiser, Klopp will be interviewed and highlight the parallels between his life and career and the HBUFC story.
The interview will be followed by an auction of Liverpool merchandise, signed by Klopp, while fans can also look forward to a raffle which could see them getting the opportunity to ask the Reds manager three questions.
Photo opportunities and HBUFC shirts signed by Klopp are also up for grabs. There will be complimentary refreshments and live music will end the evening.
In the spirit of upliftment and unifying the community, a limited number of tickets will be donated to the local football community.
Tickets for the event are
R2 000 each and available through Quicket.
