Manchester City team meet Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela met with the visiting English Premiership side Manchester City at his offices in Houghton

July 23, 2009 – Manchester City footballers, in South Africa to play in the Vodacom Challenge, met Nelson Mandela today when they visited the Nelson Mandela Foundation to give him a special-edition jersey.

As Mr Mandela entered the auditorium to meet the team and support staff, he said: “I hear that you want shake to my hand.”

Greeting the players, Mr Mandela was surprised by the youthful looks of Robinho and exclaimed: “You are a baby! What are you doing here?”

Team manager Mark Hughes said: “This is a huge honour for us to be here with you.” He then gave Mr Mandela the signed team shirt inscribed with “Mandela” and the number “91”, for his age.

The newest addition to the team, striker Emmanuel Adebayor, joined the squad in South Africa but has not yet played.

Adebayor, who is from Togo, said: “As an African man it is an honour [to meet Mr Mandela]. For me this is like a dream come true. He’s an icon for all Africans.”

Robinho, another star striker, said: “It is a great honour to meet him. At 91 he’s still so fit and sharp. I hope that we’re so good at that age.”

After handing over the T-shirt and posing for photos, the team sang Happy Birthday to Mr Mandela.

The Sky Blues were beaten 2–0 by Orlando Pirates in Polokwane on Mandela Day, July 18, but went on to win 1-0 against Kaizer Chiefs in Durban. At Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, the team will play the winners of tonight’s game between Pirates and Chiefs.

Adebayor, for one, is positive. He said: “When I signed with this club, the most important thing for me was to have the mentality of a winning team, and these matches should give us more strength for the start of the season.”