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Sundowns to face Barcelona in Mandela Centenary Cup

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Barcelona vs Mamelodi Sundowns

Absa Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns and La Liga champions Barcelona will do duty in an international friendly as part of the Nelson Mandela centenary celebrations at the FNB Stadium on 16 May.

The former Caf Champions League winners last week revealed that they would have a showdown with the five-time Uefa Champions League winners, but after receiving the PSL’s blessing for the go-ahead, Masandawana had to seek approval from Caf to reschedule their Champions League clash with Horoya from 15 May to 22 May.

Sundowns held a press conference at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday to publicise that the spectacle will be going ahead as planned, in addition to revealing that tickets were being sold at an alarmingly quick rate.

Sundowns and the Motsepe Foundation are said to be partnering with the Inter-Ministerial Committee of the South African government, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Safa and La Liga in bringing Barcelona to South Africa, in a move said to cost in the excess of R100-million.

Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe revealed that he is honoured to be part of the event that aims to commemorate former president Nelson Mandela.

‘Mamelodi Sundowns and the Motsepe Foundation are honoured to play a humble role in the Nelson Mandela Centenary celebrations in honour of our icon Dr Nelson Mandela, who was respected and inspired people throughout the world.

‘Dr Nelson Mandela often referred to the power of sports and football to unite people from different races and backgrounds.’

Concerns that Barcelona would bring a B-team squad due to several members participating in the World Cup were put to bed by La Liga president Javier Tebas, who suggested that South Africa would get to see superstars like Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi‚ Luis Suarez‚ Ivan Rakitic‚ Ousmane Dembele‚ Gerard Pique‚ Sergio Busquets and Samuel Umtiti live in action.

The La Liga outfit took to their official Twitter account as well as their official website to reveal that they will be playing against Sundowns at the FNB Stadium.