South African Sports Stars do their bit for Mandela Day
From packing food parcels to handing out blankets, sports stars from across the South African sporting spectrum did their bit for MandelaDay on Tuesday. The date is marked every year on his birthday as it galvanises support and campaigners around the world to honour his life and look towards how to continue his legacy.
South Africa's most hailed athletes, getting ready for the upcoming season, took to social media to express their best wishes and thanks to the late President Nelson Mandela on what would have been his 99th birthday.
Olympic champion and 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, who is at his European training base in Gemona, Italy, said on Twitter: “Missing home on this #mandeladay as I prepare to represent our country. So proud to be S’African. One nation, one love! #LiveMadibasLegacy”.
He later quoted Madiba: “I’ve discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill one only finds there are many more to climb’ We can all learn from Madiba!”
Former Bafana star and new Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy tweeted a photo of him hugging Madiba, with the words: “Thank you Tata for inspiring me to be better & do better! Today I salute you lets make every day a #MandelaDay @NelsonMandela @MandelaDay”.
The #67MinutesForMandela initiative is all about helping those in need, and Cape Town City teamed up with the Fives Futbol company and Totalsports with the Plant A Ball project, and spent time playing soccer with youngsters.
Kaizer Chiefs spent time with their sponsors Vodacom by packing food parcels at Vodaworld in Midrand, along with the Blue Bulls rugby team, who are also sponsored by the cellular network.
Siya Kolisi and the rest of the Stormers side took time out ahead of their Super Rugby quarter-final against the Chiefs on Saturday by raising awareness of water conservation at Watsonia Park in Kraaifontein.
The Cape Cobras cricket team handed out blankets, clothing and non-perishables for various shelters, and then helped to complete a tinned food mosaic at Canal Walk.
“We want to use our energy and resources to lift the burdens of others. We aim to give back to Western Cape communities who have supported us unconditionally through trophy-winning as well as lean periods,” said Cobras coach Ashwell Prince on the team website.
This is what sport meant to Mandela: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can awaken hope where previously there was only despair.”