You’ve seen them in action at town council meetings, school committee meetings, at town hall and at the State House but this week you can see Johnston leaders covering new turf – the soccer field.

In what is billed as a friendly game, though both sides claim to have “secret weapons,” Johnston’s elected officials (joined by colleagues from nearby towns) have challenged the town’s youth soccer coaches in the first ever “Celebrity Soccer Tournament.”

Dubbed “The Mayor’s Challenge,” the game will be held under the lights on the town’s new soccer fields on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. Although rain is not expected, a rain date for the game will be Sept. 19.

It was Mayor Joseph Polisena who “threw down the gauntlet,” challenging the coaches.

“I’ll supply the Ben-Gay for the elderly players – like myself,” he quipped, adding that he hoped all the participants had insurance.

Town Manager Vincent Baccari also expressed mild concern about the physical challenge.

“I am very excited to be able to play, but I am stocking up on pain relievers for after the game. We should do ok; we have a pretty solid team and it will be a lot of fun,” he said.

The actual purpose of the game is to bring recognition to the new fields and the folks who made it happen. Up until this year, the town never had actual soccer fields – soccer was played on the baseball and softball fields. Local businesses and individuals, working as a team, made the dream a reality.

Individuals to be honored include soccer coaches Mark Gilmore and Glenn Carroll, as well as members of the Johnston Community Center Association and Dan Mazzulla, director of Parks and Recreation.

“It’s basically an awareness game to thank these gentlemen, and I want to thank all the businesses that made it possible,” the mayor said Tuesday.

Gilmore will be the game’s official referee, with Carroll serving as the emcee, and Mazzulla, who is the girls’ soccer team coach at the high school, will be playing.

“We’re going to do it up – you’ll think you’re in the pros,” said Carroll.

“Don’t worry, we have a defibrillator,” he added.

Coaching for the coaches’ team will be Richard Pezzuco, whom the mayor calls an “unsung hero.” Pezzuco built the concession stand and has been the volunteer project manager at the fields from the beginning.

There was no time to make uniforms, but Polisena said that wouldn’t affect the enthusiasm of the players.

“It’s like when we were kids, kicking the can – we’ll bring back the old days,” he said.

The game follows “Family Fun Day,” which will be held on the soccer fields from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday also marks the start of the fall soccer season, with games being held all day.

Coaching the elected officials’ team will be the mayor, Janice Mele and Lorraine Iafrate from the School Committee, and Councilman Ernest Pitochelli.

“Ernie’s used to giving orders,” Polisena said, laughing.

In terms of his team’s chances, the mayor seemed confident that they would give the coaches a run for their money.

“We’ll have a couple of ringers there – I’m not saying who they are,” he said. “I played football and wrestling in high school, but I never played soccer – but I work out on the treadmill every day at 4:30 a.m.”

Considered one of the town’s “secret weapons,” Councilwoman Stephanie Manzi (who laughed at the thought) has been training with her son, who played for the U-12 Lightning Soccer travel team. She has also coached her triplets’ youth soccer team.

“Saturday should be fun,” she said. “My son said I could borrow his shin guards and long socks – anything that fits me – and I’ll bring my inhaler.”

Manzi said the team would be there early to warm up before the game, consisting of four, 15-minute quarters.

“It’s going to be an ass-kicking,” said Gilmore, omitting who he thinks will be doing the kicking.

When asked if he was worried about bumps and bruises, the mayor’s chief of staff, Robert Parker, joked that he’d wear a suit of armor.

“I’m looking forward to the game,” he said.

Town Council President Robert Russo said he too was excited for the game and hoped many residents would turn out to see the spectacle.

“It is good to have an event like this to bring a little lighthearted fun, especially during such tense economic times,” he said. “I encourage people to come and see our new fields. I guarantee they will be proud of all the efforts of the many people that contributed their time and money to make such a beautiful complex. It is a true testament of what community means.”

Although the soccer fields are completed, work at the site continues. D’Ambra Construction recently finished the asphalt paving, and a walking track is about three-quarters completed.

“The walking track at the park is so popular, we had to build a second one,” said Polisena.

Admission to the Family Fun Day and Celebrity Soccer Game is free, although the organizers will accept donations, which will be given to the Robert Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund – named for the recently deceased JHS co-athletic director. Players are also being asked to donate $5 to the fund.

Some of the money will be used to purchase a memorial brick to be laid in the walkway in Smith’s memory on soccer Senior Night. Another brick will be laid on Saturday, Sept. 12, to honor long-time supporter James N. Baccala Sr., president of Baccala Concrete Corporation, who passed away on Aug. 24.

“There’s not enough words to thank these guys – so we’ll do it with our ‘blood, sweat and tears,’” the mayor said.

The Family Fun Day, organized by Johnston Lightning Soccer coach Ernie Valentine, will include several bounce-houses, an obstacle course and soccer challenges. The concession stand will be open.

“It’s also opening day for fall soccer – so it will be a full day,” said Mazzulla.

Luckily, all the elected officials players will have Sunday to recover before reporting back to work on Monday.

“If it works out, we’ll have it every year,” said Polisena.

For more information, call the Johnston Parks & Recreation office at 272-3460.