On Saturday, 17 August 2013 South Africans will gather at FNB Stadium to celebrate and promote the legacy of our Icon Nelson Mandela as he celebrates his 95th birthday.

The Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day, launched on 4 July 2013 comprises of a series of activities and will culminate into a single, big sporting and cultural festival. According to the Department of Sports and Recreation and Department of Arts and Culture the event also aims to promote social cohesion, nation building and world peace through sports and culture including raising funds for the Nelson Mandela Children Hospital.

Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana legend, Doc Khumalo told kaizerchiefs.com on Wednesday afternoon that Dr. Mandela deserves all the praise and honour from football, rugby and everyone.

Khumalo, arguably one of the best players ever to don Bafana Bafana jersey is raring to the put on the no. 15 jersey one more time as the country honours one of the greatest statesmen on earth, Nelson Mandela.

Doc, the fans must be waiting with bated breath for the South African Masters against Italian counterparts on Saturday, 17 August at FNB Stadium. How are the preparations going for the game?

(Smiling) All is going well. We are going to camp on Thursday evening at the same hotel we camped at during the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations and that alone will invoke poignant emotions from the group in particular those who were part of the team for that tournament.

Did the Technical Team develop a training program for the players in the team ahead of Saturday’s game?

It is standard for some of us to stay fit. I am still active and I play five-a-side games every Monday. I sometimes join the boys at training at the Village so I am in good physical condition. It cannot be about the event on Saturday but it is the prerogative of everyone to keep themselves fit.

The event will see both football and rugby being played on the same venue for the first time…

There is no better way to honour Madiba for the contribution he has made in the development of sports in this country. He made a contribution that saw us getting an opportunity to compete against the rest of the world. He was there at Ellis Park in 1995 when we won Rugby World Cup and at the FNB when we won Afcon in 1996.

It is a celebration of an icon, someone who has made an immense contribution not only in South Africa but all over the world. He was behind the success of Bafana Bafana in 1996 and also qualifying for the World Cup in 1998. We are forever grateful for his undivided support. I have also been told that proceeds from the event will go towards building a children’s hospital which makes the event even more special.

During the peak of your career you could not come up against Roberto Baggio one of the players you admired…if you come up against him on Saturday can we expected you to welcome him with a shibobo?

Is he coming? (Laughing) It would be nice if he comes through but we will be ready for whoever comes. The game is not about the results but to honour Madiba. We just have to go and enjoy ourselves. We are raring to go, come Saturday.

Do you have any memories to share about your interactions with Dr Mandela?

I had met him few times before he surprised everybody by joining us for breakfast just before we took on Cameroon in our first game in the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. We did not expect to see him and his words that morning fired us up and we went on to win the game 3-0.

I had many interactions with him over the years and it was surprising that he knew quite a lot about me. I think it was all about what I was doing on the pitch during my playing days (smiling).

Screamer Tshabalala and Clive Barker will be coaching theSouth African Masters team?

Yes, Screamer coached us in our very first game against Cameroon back in 1992 (Doc scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot). Clive was of course our coach as we won the Afcon in 1996 and we also qualified for the World Cup 98.

The competition for places will be fierce…

Yes, I heard that the likes of Teenage (Dladla), Jomo Sono, Mlungisi Ngubane, the Tovey brothers (Mark and Neil), Luckie (Lucas Radebe) and many others will be coming through but I will see everyone when we go on camp on Thursday evening.

You must be looking forward to playing with the likes of Teenage Dladla, another Kaizer Chiefs legend…

(Smiling) I played with him for a couple of seasons before he retired but the best game ever with him was the JPS final against Jomo Cosmos at Kings Park Durban. We beat them 3-0. We mesmerized Cosmos the whole afternoon and it was Teenage who set up my goal from a corner kick. I last played with Jomo (Sono) another great player during the a game in Alexander where also Deputy President, Kgalema Motlante played but it will be the first time to play with Professor Ngubane.

Your message to Madiba…

He will not be at the stadium on Saturday as he is still in hospital. We keep him in our prayers and wish him a speedy recovery.

To the people, come join us as we celebrate Madiba's legacy. I hear that there will be top musicians performing as well, besides the Masters, Bafana Bafana and Springboks games. Let us honour a legend!