(ANS – Avellaneda) – On the initiative of Norberto Chindermi, Don Bosco was declared the patron saint of the Argentinian football team Racing Club of Avellaneda in 1967, and since 1969 his image has pride of place in the changing room. Racing Club is the only professional football team in Argentina to have Don Bosco as patron saint, and to celebrate him on the Bicentenary of his birth, on August 22^nd a new statue was placed in the VIP stand in “José Pizzutti” stadium.

Ever since, Don Bosco’s statue accompanies the team, for better or worse, in victories and defeats, and numerous are the players and managers coming from the oratory or from Don Bosco houses. Even now there are several, among whom Washington Camacho (Uruguay), Marcos Acuña (Zapala) and Jonathan Cabral (San Justo).

Today, 200 years from his birth, the team remembers the founder of the Salesian Congregation. To celebrate him, on Saturday August 22^nd a new statue was placed at 15.00 hours in the VIP stand “José Pizzutti” (the VIP entrance to the stadium), and before the match a group of youth from various Salesian houses, accompanied by Fr. Norberto Chindemi and Fr. Juan Francisco Tomás, all fans of Racing Club, paraded in the football pitch with a commemorative banner.

Besides, ten commemorative posters were placed in the adjoining streets, one thousand pins designed for the occasion and 20 jerseys with the official logo of Don Bosco’s Bicentenary, used by the players for their training, were distributed.           

In this way Racing Club want to greet on this very special day all the Salesian Community and commit themselves to honour the image of their patron saint and protector.

Published 25/08/2015