With Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns set to headline a new four-team tournament next month, the reason behind their participation in the upcoming Home of Legends Cup has seemingly been revealed. Here's a look!
The story
It has been confirmed that on 16 November 2024, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will host the inaugural Home of Legends Cup, with will feature Chiefs, Sundowns, Golden Arrows and Chippa United.
With Amakhosi having won the Cufa Cup in Bloemfontein last weekend, the Soweto giants will have an opportunity to get their hands on another piece of silverware to uplift their confidence.
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The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) confirmed that the reason behind the competition is boost football's popularity in the region, thus why an invite was extended to four of the country's top-flight teams.
"The MBDA has initiated the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay Home of Legends Cup aimed to be an annual showcase of African arts, culture and primarily focusing on the best football,"a statement by the MBDA confirmed, according to The Herald.
"This new iconic event will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in November 2024. The Home of Legends Cup is an MBDA propriety event and an initiative that has been long in the making in terms of increasing the profile of football in the region."
Notably, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium also recently hosted Bafana Bafana for their 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Congo last week. The fans got their money's worth, as Hugo Broos' side ran riot with a dominant 5-0 win.
The supporters' excitement proved difficult to contain, as the game was stopped in the first half due to fans excitedly running onto the pitch.
The Home of Legends Cup will be played almost exactly 15 years after the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium hosted its first international match on 14 November 2009, in a friendly between Bafana and Japan.
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