Phiwokuhle Mothemela
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in partnership with the Mandela Bay Development Agency, has launched the Home of Legends Cup tournament that is set to take place in Gqeberha next month.
MBDA CEO Anele Qaba announced that Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Lamontville Golden Arrows, and the resident team Chippa United will participate in this inaugural tournament.
He said the tournament is a premier football event aimed at celebrating the rich football heritage of South Africa.
The tournament is part of the Home of Legends Week concept, featuring concerts, summits, and sports development initiatives.
"The MBDA has a mandate to make the NMB Stadium sweat and this initiative, a part of a broader Home of Legends Weeks concept is exactly what the city needs to boost the tourism economy. We expect that we will have a sold-out field with a cap of 38000 tickets for operational reasons,' says Qaba.
Speaking on the fixtures, Qaba explained that members of the public will be allowed to put together their preferred fixture for the first two games through a voting poll.
Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Sports and Recreation MEC, Sibulele Ngongo praised the initiative and said the tournament does not only contribute to football but to the arts and culture of the province.
"Thanks to this initiative, our people of the Eastern Cape do not have to travel far to witness great events of this kind," she adds.
"This event will go far in making the Eastern Cape a sporting destination of choice."
NMB mayor Gary van Niekerk also used the opportunity to raise the possibility of honouring a Bay legend, Dr Danny Jordaan who has made a significant lifetime contribution to South Africa through many ventures, most notably for leading the charge in bringing the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“We must consider renaming this facility to Dr Danny Jordaan Stadium as a fitting gesture to honour his legacy and contributions,” said Van Niekerk.
Tickets for the 16th of November event are available via Webtickets and various Pick n Pay and Boxer stores across the city.
TICKETS ONLINE HERE: Home of Legends Cup 2024 (webtickets.co.za)
