Flames veteran striker Esau Kanyenda has been named Cosafa Cup 2015 ambassador alongside other legends who have graced the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations regional football panorama.
Amid bad publicity which immigrant attacks have generated on South Africa, Cosafa want to use Kanyenda, Mozambique legend Emmanuel Tico-Tico Bucuane, former Botswana star Dipsy Selolwane, Mauritius’ Marc Ithier and Peter Ndlovu from Zimbabwe to impress on the locals in the North West Province on the importance of football in human development.
Kanyenda, who won the 2002 Cosafa Player of the Series when steering the Flames to the final, told The Nation that he was honoured to be among few veterans recognised through the ambassadorship.
“I am excited about this recognition and it shows that I achieved something in this competition” said Kanyenda who plays for Polokwane City. He is on off-season break and not part of the Flames squad as coach Young Chimodzi is trying some new players.
FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said they, upon being approached by Cosafa, recommended Kanyenda for the ambassadorship.
The former stars arrived at the Cosafa Cup base of Sun City from where they have been visiting the communities alongside top officials such as Cosafa president Seketu Patel.
On Friday, they visited three local schools followed by a cultural tour with Chief Kgosi Pilane of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela on Saturday. The ambassadors talked to the learners about the ills of xenophobia and conducted two coaching clinics.
