The two South African teams pitted to compete in the Nelson Mandela Football Invitational against Premier League Team Manchester City have been announced. Supersport United will play the English side on 14 July 2013 at Loftus Versfeld in the City of Tshwane, while Amazulu Football Club will take on the team on 18 July 2013 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Madiba’s 95th birthday. Broadcast rights for both matches have been secured with Super Sport on the DSTV network.

“We are once again excited to be hosting another international team on our warm shores for the 2nd Nelson Mandela Football Invitational. And as a city, we are proud that our boys, Amazulu FC will get the opportunity to compete against Manchester City, in what will no-doubt be an epic match.” said Councillor James Nxumalo, the Mayor of eThekwini. He expressed his gratitude to the organisers of the tour and all other stakeholders for having chosen Durban as the destination of choice. “We assure you that you have made the right decision. We will ensure that the team’s stay is a memorable one. We are excited and look forward to hosting the team,” he said. Nxumalo also appealed to all citizens of eThekwini and beyond to go out in numbers to buy their tickets so that they can come and support the teams. He said that the local citizens would benefit a lot from the team’s visit, as they would get an opportunity to interact with and learn from them during the various activities that will take place during the tour.

Manchester City is set to arrive in Durban on 11 July 2013, where they will begin their training ahead of the two matches. The visit to South Africa marks the peak of their preparation for the 2013/14 season, and these two encounters come ahead of the team’s tour to Hong Kong. Tickets for the two matches will be available through national ticket outlet, Computicket, priced between R150, R250 and R350 from Tuesday, 25 June 2013. Fans can visit www.computicket.co.za for tickets, and seat allocations per stadium.

“The Nelson Mandela Football Invitational is a fitting way to celebrate a larger than life icon. Africa Rising is proud to support what is undoubtedly going to be a magical moment,” said Ndaba Mandela, Chairman of Africa Rising and grandson of Madiba. Celebrated annually around the world on Nelson Mandela’s birthday, Mandela Day is a tribute to his life’s charitable work and to ensure his legacy continues forever. Every year people around the world are called to dedicate 67 minutes for change on Mandela Day because everyone has the ability and responsibility of changing the world into a better place. Manchester City and Amazulu FC players will also answer this call and will take charitable action to give back to the community during the tour.

Tour promoter, Lyndon Barends: “We are celebrating the legacy of Madiba Magic through the magic of soccer to bring people together,” said Barends. “We’re confident that these 3 teams will excite and entertain the soccer-loving fans of our country, and we are looking forward to sold-out stadia on both days,” he concludes.

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Thokozile Qoboza 083 641 2432 or thokozile@qoboza.co.za or Zimkhita Mafanya 083 320 8748 or imkhita@ggisa.com

Issued by eThekwini Communications Unit. Contact the Municipal spokesperson, Mr Thabo Mofokeng on 031 311 4820, 082 731 7345, or email habo1.mofokeng@durban.gov.za

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