MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG-SOUTH African midfielder, Amanda Dlamini, has been appointed the ambassador of the Under-12 Danone Nations Cup Southern Africa soccer tournament.
She joins an illustrious group of world stars who are the ambassadors of the tournament among them former French star and current Real Madrid coach, Zinedane Zidane (global ambassador) and national ambassadors include Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria), Gheorghe Hagi (Romania) and Carlos Tévez (Argentina).
Dlamini, who is currently in camp preparing for the Olympic Games, will start her official duties on Saturday, when she attends the Danone Nations Cup national finals happening at the WJ Clements Stadium in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni.
Post the national finals she will then assist the kids leading up to the world finals taking place in Paris, France between October 14th and 16th.
KwaZulu-Natal-born Dlamini captained Banyana Banyana from 2010-2013, before resigned to concentrate on her university studies and focus on her game.
In that time, she helped the national team to silver medals at the 2011 Cosafa Cup and the 2012 African Women Championships.
She led the team to the 2012 Olympic Games in London – the first time South Africa had participated in the event.
“I was so humbled when Danone asked me to be their ambassador for the Danone Nations Cup,” says Dlamini.
She says working with the youth is very close to my heart hence she started her foundation.
In 2013 she established the Amanda Dlamini Girls Foundation aimed at inspiring young girls to make their dreams come true irrespective of their backgrounds and circumstances by creating an enabling environment that will allow them to be empowered through the use of sports and educational life skills.
Chantel Ehlers, Communication Specialist, Danone, welcomed Dlamini on board.
She is an excellent role model to our young up and coming players. She is driven, works hard and is a great motivator. She epitomizes what the Danone Nations Cup stands for, which is fair play, openness, pleasure of the game and friendship.”
– Guardian Sport
