/ 14 July 2013

SuperSport dedicate Man City game to ‘greatest man’ Madiba

David Mathebula of SuperSport United and Gareth Barry of Manchester City
David Mathebula of SuperSport United and Gareth Barry of Manchester City

Addressing reporters on Sunday at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria after hammering English Premiership giants Manchester City, Cavin Johnson said the match was for Madiba.

"For us it was about playing for the greatest man that walked on this earth, that is Nelson Mandela" he said.

"We enjoyed the football today. Going into the 2013/14 season we would like to play more like this and hope to be on top or be as close to the top as possible."

The Pretoria side beat Manchester City 2-0 in their pre-season Nelson Mandela Football Invitational match.

After a goalless first half, lanky Mame Niang and Kermit Erasmus netted in the 56th and 81st minutes, respectively.

Substitute
Niang rose above the City defence for the opener before fellow substitute, Erasmus, sealed the deserved victory in the dying stages over their lethargic English Premiership opponents.

It was United's enterprising play under new coach Cavin Johnson, who signalled a new era at the club after Gavin Hunt left for Wits having spent six years with the team.

United warmed the hearts of the sparsely attended fixture at the Pretoria venue with their exciting forays forward.

Matsatsantsa had showed their intent as early as the second minute with winger Bennett Chenene drawing a save from Joe Hart in the City goal.

They finished off an impressive victory in the second half, making a host of substitutions to give game time to the rest of the squad players, including all three of their goalkeepers.

The victory margin could have increased had substitute Clifford Mulenga managed to control the ball inside the penalty area where he was tackled before turning and shooting.

'My first game'
City manager, Chilean Manuel Pellegrini said it was an honour for him to take in the pre-Mandela Day celebrations.

"Its my first game [as City Manager] and its an honour for us to play for such an important day like the birthday of Mr Mandela," he said.

"For Manchester City and me its an honour."

Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said Sunday's match brought different races together.

"You could see the racial mix of the crowd here. It wasn't your typical South African football mix.

"That augurs well with for the future. There were people from across the racial spectrum who were part of this celebration today," he said.

The Manchester City team would play their final match at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban against AmaZulu on Mandela's birthday, July 18.

Madiba is spending his 37th day in hospital, he was admitted to the Medi-Clinic Heart hospital in Pretoria on June 8 for a recurring lung infection.

On Sunday, numerous well-wishers visited the hospital to pay tribute to the 94-year-old icon. – Sapa