South African club SuperSport United will host English Premier League giants Manchester City on Sunday afternoon at Loftus Versveld, as pre-season kicks into gear for both sides in the first match of the Nelson Mandela Football Invitational.
It will be the first challenge for Manuel Pellegrini and new SuperSport United coach Cavin Johnson, in what should prove to be a tough assignment for the side which finished sixth in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League last season.
The match will be an ideal opportunity for both coaches to test their new signings, with SuperSport set to play Bennett Chenene and David Mathebula, while Senegalese striker Mame Niang will also make an appearance for the side known as Matsatsantsa. Electrifying winger Thuso Phala wiil not play in the friendly due to an injury.
Manchester City will look to blood exciting new signings Jesus Navas and Fernandinho, while Pellegrini has intimated that he will start his strongest possible line-up against SuperSport United.
Both sides will be allowed to make 9 substitutions during the match, which should allow for many fringe players to test out the pitch at Loftus Versveld.
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SuperSport United coach Cavin Johnson guided the un-fancied Platinum Stars to a second placed finish in the PSL last season
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Manuel Pellegrini famously took Spanish side Malaga to the quarterfinals of the Champions League in the 2012/2013 season
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Manchester City finished second in the Premier League last season, 11 points below rivals Manchester United
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The funds will go towards 10 schools in Nelson Mandela’s hometown of Qunu in the Eastern Cape
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City will play Durban-based club AmaZulu in the second match of the invitational on the 18th of July.
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