CFU News - Warner and Mandela exchange gifts in Cape Town

Photo shows Warner at centre with Nelson Mandela, Pele and Samuel Eto'o in Cape Town on Tuesday. Second photo shows Warner kissing Mandela on the head.

Warner and Mandela exchange gifts in Cape Town…Madiba in high spirits ahead of Birthday Match

Issued on July 17, 2007

FIFA Vice President Jack Warner met with legendary South African statesman Nelson Mandela on Tuesday to bring him birthday greetings on the eve of his 89th birthday which will be celebrated in Cape Town on Wednesday with a football match involving several world stars in his honour at the Newlands Stadium.

Warner, representing FIFA President Sepp Blatter at the events, was accompanied on his visit to Mandela bythe legendary Pele and Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o.

Representing the FIFA football family and football worldwide, Warner was elated to bring greetings to Mandela who was in high spirits throughout, saying he was looking forward to Wednesday’s match as he also made some presentations to the CONCACAF President who hosted him in Trinidad in 2004

“This was again another touching moment to bring greetings to the great man on behalf of FIFA and the football family and he was in such high spirits which made the occasion an even happier one for those of us who were there,” Warner said. “He remembers Trinidad and Tobago very well and has presented me with copies of his book to take back home. His story will live on, “Warner added.

Mandela affectionately known as Madiba, greeted Warner, Pele and Eto’o very warmly in the presence of a large International media following and received from Warner a message and a FIFA pennant from President Blatter.

Mandela thanked Warner profusely for bringing the 2010 World Cup to South Africa and wished Warner and the FIFA family every success in all their football matters. On Warner's request, he sent a message to the people of Trinidad & Tobago on the occasion of its Emancipation Day celebrations as well as he signed a few copies of his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, to be presented to a few special African achievers of Trinidad & Tobago at the UNC Emancipation Day celebrations scheduled for the Canedo Hall at the Dr Joao Centre of Excellence at 5:00pm on Sunday July 29.

Following Warner's visit, Mandela met former Presidents of the United States, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan as well as Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Warner, Pele and Eto’o along with some 300 foreign journalists will be visiting Robben Island on Wednesday to inspect the prison where he spent some 25 years incarcerated. An 89-minute match in honour of Mandela's 89th birthday will be played on Robben Island as a prelude to the Mandela match later that same day at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town . That game will assemble winners of all of the major titles in world football, including the FIFA World Cup, the European Championship, the African Cup of Nations and the UEFA Champions League.The Premier of Cape Town - Premier Ibrahim Rasool and the Mayor of Cape Town, Mayor Helen Zille, have also organised a dinner in Warner's honour on behalf of the City of Cape Town.