SOCCER fanatics and KwaZulu-Natal citizens at large are urged to wear AmaZulu Football Club’s regalia ahead of the team’s CAF Champions League game.

The team will kickstart their maiden CAF campaign on Friday, 10 September. Usuthu, as the team is affectionately known, will take on Malawian side Nyasa Big Bullets in the preliminary match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Kickoff is at 5pm.

The Malawian team arrived in eThekwini on 8 September to a warm welcome led by the MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation Hlengiwe Mavimbela and eThekwini Municipality’s Councillor Mondli Zwane.

AmaZulu FC will be competing in the biggest football tournament on the continent for the first time in the club’s 88 years of existence. This is also the first time a KZN side has played in the Champions League.

To demonstrate support for Usuthu, KZN football fans are urged wear their AmaZulu gear and rally behind the club on Friday and other matches to follow. The game will be streamed live on the AmaZulu FC Facebook page.

MEC Mavimbela said the Provincial Government is committed to strengthen its partnership with KZN teams to ensure that they remain competitive and grow their support base.

“We are here to show our full support to AmaZulu Football Club as they embark on this historic journey on the African continent. We are confident that Usuthu will continue from where they left off last season and advance further in the Champions League as well as in domestic competitions. As supporters of football in KwaZulu-Natal we must show our support to AmaZulu by wearing the team’s regalia when they play,” said MEC Mavimbela.

Councillor Zwane said: “We are fortunate to witness such a historic occasion. To us, the match is more than just a soccer game, but it is a significant part of tourism promotion, as the Malawian team will spend about five days in eThekwini experiencing the beauty and warm hospitality of the City. Such experiences lead to people coming back to Durban to fully explore our tourist attractions.”

“Sport has shaped the City and has contributed meaningfully to the tourism economy. We have brand partnerships with local sport teams that have a national presence including AmaZulu FC. These partnerships have been critical during these trying times as they fly our flag high to keep the Durban brand on top of people’s mind,” added Councillor

Zwane.

Public Relations Officer for AmaZulu FC, Phumlani Dube said the team will be jetting off to Malawi for the second leg fixture on 18 September.

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