A prestigious dinner will be
held to honour South African football
team captain Aaron Mokoena.
(Image: www.safa.net)
South Africa’s national football squad captain Aaron Mokoena will be honoured at a high-profile dinner in Johannesburg on 7 June. The event will also help to raise funds for Mokoena’s charity foundation, and wish his team well for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The Aaron Mokoena Foundation, which will host the The Captains Dinner, was founded in May 2008 and uses football as a medium to teach children about healthy living and the importance of education, with the hope of developing them into successful sportsmen and women.
“I believe football and sport are a fundamental part of the education of all young people,” said Mokoena. “I believe that all young people should have an opportunity to take part in a range of sporting activities. Participation is important in itself, but football and sport can also develop important values and attributes.”
Well-known South African and international public figures from the world of sports, entertainment, government and business will attend the black-tie dinner, which will involve a cocktail reception, dinner, after-party and auction
The entertainment line-up includes top South African performers such as Hugh Masekela and local R&B artist Danny K.
“I am delighted to be able to host this event, which will profile and raise funds for the work undertaken by my foundation. It will be a great night,” said Mokoena.
With the dinner being held just days before World Cup kick-off on 11 June, it’ll offer the ideal opportunity to wish national team Bafana Bafana well for the month-long tournament. The team have been drawn into Group A to face Mexico, France and Uruguay.
Young champion
Mokoena’s illustrious captaincy of Bafana Bafana will also be celebrated on the night.
In 1999, at just 17, Mokoena was called to play for the national squad, making him Bafana Bafana’s youngest member ever. He still holds this record today. “To play for my country is a great honour. To be called up at 17 was a dream come true and I could not have been more proud,” he said.
As captain, Mokoena has received the most caps in the history of the team. On the 30th May, he got his 100th cap during the team’s international friendly game against Guatemala. “In September 2009 I achieved a record of 50 caps as captain. I am all too aware of my responsibilities as captain of Bafana Bafana and understand my role as a leader who must motivate, encourage, and enthuse my fellow teammates,” he said.
“The year 2010 is the most important time in our nation’s history, when the eyes of the world are on South Africa as we host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It is an exciting time to be a South African and it is an important time to be focused in order to deliver on the field at the biggest football show on earth.”
Mokoena has also led a successful football career in Europe, playing for teams such as Bayer Leverkusen, Ajax Amsterdam, Genk and Blackburn Rovers. He is currently the team captain for English Premiership club Portsmouth.
