Charity Football Match To Help Rebuild Algarve After The Tornado

A charity football match will be taking place tomorrow (Saturday) in the Algarve to help raise funds to rebuild sporting facilities in Silves and Lagoa following the tornado that hit the area on November 16.

The game will take place between the Algarve and Sporting with the match taking place at the Esatádio de São Luís in Faro with kick off scheduled for 4pm.

Tickets to the match have now gone on sale at the stadium and have been priced at five euros per ticket to help to encourage as many people as possible to attend the match.

The initiative to help support the sporting associations affected by the tornado was organised by the Algarve Football Association with money raised from the charity match being dedicating to rebuilding sporting facilities.

The municipal swimming pool and sports area of Silves was very badly damaged in the tornado which wreaked havoc across the Carvoeiro, Silves and Lagoa areas on November 16.  The Silves football club, on the opposite side of the road to the municipal swimming pools, was also very badly damaged and it is hoped that the funds raised from the charity football match will largely be able to help get the football stadium back into working order.

The municipalities of both Silves and Lagoa are said to be providing buses for local fans who are wanting to go and watch the game in Faro while the local police from Silves have said that they will be policing the game for free in a bid to help the cause.

President of the Algarve Football Association, Alves Caetano, told the regional newspaper Região Sul, that he had been overwhelmed by the support the initiative has received.  ”I have been touched by the outpouring of help that has surrounded this initiative in the past few day.  This shows that the feeling of solidarity in the Algarve has not been lost.”

He added: “We hope that there will be a great atmosphere in the stadium while the game is being played and we are counting on as many people as possible to attend to support this cause.”

Stars from the Sporting team will be playing a selection of players picked from the Algarve teams of Olhanense, Portimonense, Farense, Louletano, Silves, Lagoa and Esp. Lagoa.

Silves football club is not only the home of the local football team but it also plays host to various other sports and it has been seen as very important to be able to get the stadium up and running again as soon as possible to allow all the athletes the opportunity to be able to resume training.