Flames legend Ernest Mtawali is in the legends teams to play in an international charity match on December 11 at Orlando Stadium in South Africa.
South African Masters and Legends Football Association (Samlfa), Professional Soccer Management Company and Prophet Shepherd Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church have organised the charity match.
Other legends included are Lucas Radebe, Phil Masinga, Doctor Khumalo, Benjamin Mwaruwari, Steven Pienaar, Benny McCarthy, Sibusiso Zuma, Macbeth Sibaya, Quinton Fortune, Delron Buck-ley, Jabu Pule, Tso Vilakazi, Naughty Mokoena and Portia Modise, according to Prophet Bushiri’s communication’s director Ephraim Nyondo.
He said: “We are commencing a partnership with South African Football Masters and Legends, and we are very excited about this partnership. Charity work is at the core of our prophet’s calling, and we take pride in partnering with organisations such as Samlfa and we look forward to the Charity match and our future relationship.
“Teams will be made up of the class of 1996—the South Africa team that won African Cup of Nations, South Africa players who participated in 2010 World Cup and selected legends across Africa who made their nations proud such as Ernest Mtawali from Malawi, Benjamin Mwaruwari from Zimbabwe and Okpara from Nigeria.”
Nyondo said the match will also celebrate past soccer players such as Kalamazoo Mokoena, Jomo Sono, Kaizer Motaung and Ace Ntseleng who put South Africa football on the world map.
Samlfa president Buddha Mathathe confirmed the development in a press statement issued yesterday, saying the match is also aimed at raising funds for Samlfa and advancing prophet Bushiri’s ongoing charity programmes in South Africa.
“We want to support the neglected football masters and legends at a very historic time in our country, when we honour and celebrate the legacy of President Mandela, Mama Winnie Mandela and Mama Albertina Sisulu. Football has been and remains an international unifier, these legends and masters match is very fitting, and Samlfa looks forward to hosting over 40 legends and masters,” he said.
Mtawali said he was honoured to be recognised by Samlfa and prophet Bushiri. n
