The aim of  the Unity Cup is to raise awareness of the Special Olympics Unified Sports Programme which brings Special Olympics athletes together with players, former players and celebrities without learning disabilities in athletic competition. This game was to be their first before a major sporting event.

The day before the game all of the athletes and celebrities were escorted to a Rugby stadium adjacent to Green Point Stadium for a training session. As soon as training began it became clear that the game was going to be serious. The Unity Cup is about sending a message to the World that people with different abilities can be included and accepted into their societies and cultures. What better way to do that than to showcase the talents and skills of these athletes in a serious match. Kammy and  Lawrie McMenemy led the athletes and celebrity players through some drill sessions. The hard work, effort, desire and the impressive skills showcased by the Special Olympics athletes was there for all to see. It is NOT about creating sympathy for what they cannot do and the work being done by the Special Olympics is superb.

After the first session had finished there was a break before Jacob Zuma would arrive, and when he did there was nobody who wasn’t aware of it. In swooped a cavalcade of cars flanked by police and some 40 security service personnel checking out the immediate area, watching for threats, and making sure nobody tried any funny business.

The game was played at 2pm on Saturday 3 July 2010, 2 hours before kick-off between Argentina and Germany, but there were still 5,000 people in attendance. The athletes and partners were introduced over the speaker system to the audience, and personally by Lawrie to FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini.

The game had to begin without Jacob Zuma, who had not yet arrived at the stadium, and so Lucas ‘Chief’ Radebe was captain of a side including Kammy, Nakata and the Special Olympics athletes. After only a minute of the game Kammy's team took the lead with some great passing football and went close a few more times!

Then Zuma arrived. He walked out to cheers in the stadium and Lucas immediately ran and gave him the Captain’s armband.

Clarence Seedorf came on as a substitute in the second half and right away he made an impact, for the opposition, as they scored an equaliser almost right away.  The goal came after a good move put together by some of the athletes, but Kammy's team quickly regained the lead and everyone joined in the celebrations including Jacob Zuma (see photo above). With the last move of the game the opposition moved the ball forward and sent a cross into the box and Santana, the Special Olympics athlete from Brazil, connected with an overhead kick from the edge of the box, nearly catching President Zuma in the face!  The ball sailed past Nigerian Peter Okocha and the referee blew for the goal and the end of the match. The equalising goal was one worthy of any football match, anywhere in the world, even at the highest level.  The goal was only a sign of things to come in the Germany v Argentina game that was to follow.

Partners who took part included Dikembe Mutombo, Zhang Ziyi, Hidetoshi Nakata, Clarence Seedorf, Christian Karembeu, Steve Sumner, Enrique Borja, Tim Shriver, Jacob Zuma,