Malcolm and his son, Marcello.
To experience the FIFA World Cup final games live in Johannesburg, South Africa and to meet a FIFA soccer team, would be a dream come true for any soccer fan.
In June 2010, one of IBISKA’s consultants and avid soccer fans, Malcolm Britto, did just that alongside his 12 year old son, Marcello. Marcello, the captain of the team, and his teammates from Lycee Claudel Soccer Team, were the only Canadian players to compete in the “Mini World Cup” Challenge, hosted by a school in Johannesburg.
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The team of boys and 2 girls played soccer against students representing other countries, they studied South African history from Apartheid to the birth of the Rainbow Nation, they participated in a parade and personal tour of Soweto, they engaged in a parliamentary debate on the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child, and even visited a game park. In addition to this amazing cultural exchange, the team gathered and delivered soccer uniforms and equipment to outfit 3 South African youth teams based in Soweto.
Congrats to the young Team Canada, who placed fifth out of 26 teams, losing only one game in a penalty shootout. It was a unique life experience and a wonderful memory treasured forever by father and son.