Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart FC yesterday launched the Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation Cup with the winner of tonight’s showdown between the two clubs at the Sydney Football Stadium (7pm kick-off) taking home the silverware.
Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart FC yesterday launched the Zaidee-s Rainbow Foundation Cup with the winner of tonight’s showdown between the two clubs at the Sydney Football Stadium (7pm kick-off) taking home the silverware.
The Sky Blues Nicky Carle and Melbourne Heart-s John Aloisi were joined by Zaidee-s Rainbow Foundation CEO Allan Turner at the SFS to launch the new initiative which will see the two sides play off for the Cup once a year.
Sydney FC has the honour of hosting the first edition tomorrow night with the Heart holding the match in 2011/12 and so on. The winning captain on Thursday night will be presented with the Cup. If the match ends in a draw the Cup will not be presented.
Players from both sides will don Zaidee-s Rainbow Foundation signature rainbow coloured shoelaces for the match in support of the Foundation which aims to raise awareness about young people considering becoming organ and/or tissue donors.
Zaidee-s Rainbow Foundation was established by Allan Turner after his daughter Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner, aged 7 years and 22 days died suddenly on 2 December 2004 from a burst blood vessel in her brain. Zaidee was a registered organ donor and saved the lives of many ill young children.
“I want to thank both Sydney FC and the Melbourne Heart for getting behind our foundation. The Zaidee-s Rainbow Cup really takes the spreading of our message to a new level,” Allan Turner said.
“My daughter Zaidee was the only child in Victoria under the age of 16 years, and one of the youngest Australians to donate her organs and tissues in 2004 and was only one of six children under the age of 16 years nationally to donate their organs and tissues.
“Through the Zaidee-s Foundation Cup we hope to continue to raise awareness about young people considering becoming organ and tissue donors.
“I wish both teams the best of luck in tomorrow night-s game.”
The match will mark the return of former Sydney FC stars Simon Colosimo, Clint Bolton and Aloisi to the SFS.
The trio and their Melbourne Heart teammates currently sit in eighth spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder, six points ahead of Sydney FC. The sides played a 0-0 all draw in their only previous meeting on Saturday 27 November at AAMI Park.
For more information on Zaidee-s Rainbow Foundation visit www.zaidee.org.
