South African Football Association (SAFA) president Dr Danny Jordaan has reminded all South Africans to remember and commemorate the Nelson Mandela Day in honour of the country’s founding father, the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
In 2010, the United Nations declared the first Mandela Day on 18 July 2010 – a few days after the very first African FIFA World Cup tournament ended.
And since then, the day is commemorated around the country in honour of one of the world’s most distinguished icon.
Each year South Africans, along with many nations worldwide, dedicate 67 minutes of their time to “bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace, reconciliation and cultural diversity.
Dr Jordaan says that he along with the association will continue to remind people across the globe how Mandela brought people together through sport.
“SAFA will forever remember Tata Nelson Mandela’s contribution to our acceptance to the international football family and hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2010,” said Jordaan.
“We will continue to remember his contribution and how he used sport to unite people. He was inspirational to our senior national team where the Madiba Magic inspired the team to greater heights.
“Those of us who walked and worked with Madiba will always remember this loyal servant of the nation. He was a South African, continental and global giant.”
The SAFA President said he hoped Banyana Banyana who play Zambia in the semi-finals of the WAFCON today in Morocco to get inspiration from the Madiba Magic and book a place in the continental final.
‘’It will be fitting that our girls beat Zambia today and commemorate the Mandela Day in style,’’ said the SAFA President.