Masandawana To Make Return To Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns have accepted the invitation to the annual Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup taking place in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Durban Pre-season tournament hosted at Ulundi stadium annually returns after it was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s edition is scheduled to start on Saturday, 23 July with The Brazilians set to take on Richards Bay FC in the semi-final clash at 11:00.

“We would like to first appreciate this initiative from the leadership of the Zululand district, we appreciate being invited to a tournament of this magnitude. You could’ve chosen so many other teams but you chose Sundowns and we are not taking this tournament for granted. We really appreciate any given match that we get in preparation for the season and we know very well that normally we struggle to get friendlies around this time.” said Masandawana Co-Coach, Manqoba Mngqithi at the launch of the tournament.

The Legacy Cup was established to honor IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and was first launched in 2018 where the Tshwane Giants lifted the trophy after thrashing AmaZulu in the final. Coach Manqoba showed confidence for his side to reach the final stage of this competition once more.

“Our wish is as much as we are the current Cup holders, we are not too keen on winning the Cup, but we are keen on making sure that we play two matches. There has to be somebody who gives us the opportunity to play the second match. From our side we have to make sure that the players that we are bringing on the day are able to play two matches so that both teams can get minutes on their legs on that day and that can only happen if we give ourselves the chance to go play in the final.”

To highlight the words of his Coach, Bafana Ba Style goalie Kennedy Mweene indicated how the team will use this opportunity to prepare for the new season that awaits. He said, “We’ve got something that we have developed at Sundowns which is very important that we don’t have any friendly games at Sundowns because the culture is about winning even if it’s a friendly game.”

“It’s very important that we come and play this tournament, it’s a good tournament for us as players to gauge ourselves, for us as players it will give us the chance to see how far we’ve gone with the preseason and for the coaches I think it’s important to see the combinations and the systems that they want to use this season.”

The tournament participants for this year have been confirmed in Usuthu, Natal Rich Boyz and Zululand District XI together with Masandawana to take part in the KZN Premier’s Cup preseason tournament. Richards Bay earned promotion into the Premier Soccer League at the end of the 2021/22 season, joining Royal AM, Amazulu, Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United as representatives from KZN in the PSL. Downs Coach applauded his countryman’s achievement in gaining promotion into the top-flight.

“With all due respect, we believe that we’ve got a very good team and you have our support, and also as the Son of the soil as well, I appreciate being part of this tournament and also to rub shoulders with teams from the province. I think it’s a very big, big initiative and it will take the province from one position to the next. Now with five teams in the PSL from this province, already those are very good signs.” Said Coach Manqoba.