COSAFA led the way in the Limpopo Province’s Africa Unity Day celebrations on Thursday, leading a full programme of football, culture and dance in Polokwane, which is hosting this year’s tournament.

COSAFA’s seven ambassadors, including former stars like Tico-Tico of Mozambique, Mauritius’ Jean-Marc Ithier and ex-Bafana dribbling wizard Steve Lekoelea, teamed up against 60 young boys in a match marking ‘67 Minutes for Mandela’.

The birthday of the South African statesman each year sees people from all walks of society giving 67 minutes of their time to honour Mandela’s memory.

COSAFA also handed out tee-shirts and certificates to those who participated in a youth training programme and the organisation’s competitions committee chairman Tim Shongwe addressed the assembled audience at the celebrations, including Limpopo premier Chupu Mathabatha.

Local dignitaries all thanked COSAFA for their contribution to the day and promised the finest of Polokwane’s hospitality for the duration of the two-week COSAFA Cup, which gets underway in the city on Sunday.