Two Spanish top flight clubs are expected to come to South Africa this year to honour the late Nelson Mandela, according to LaLiga president Javier Tebas. Find out more here!
In the past 10 years, South Africa has been a hotbed for European clubs to host their pre-season camps, and LaLiga has decided to add more clubs to the list by bringing down teams for a football spectacle.
The event, which will pay tribute to Madiba, who would have turned 100 years old this year, will form part of SAFA's relationship with LaLiga, who have hosted numerous events in Mzansi in an attempt to help grow the brand in the country, included the Madrid derby viewing in Cape Town last year.
Sitting at a round table with six international journalists in Madrid, including Soccer Laduma's Rossella Marrai-Ricco, Tebas revealed LaLiga's plans for 2018.
"I loved the Madrid derby event in Cape Town," he explained.
"We work with South Africa very closely. We have an agreement with SAFA for the anniversary of Mandela's birthday, where we have prepared an event and there will be soccer teams playing there.
"LaLiga is sponsoring a competition in Soweto with kids, and then we a 'Pass the ball' project where we are giving out balls in less favoured places in South Africa. We do spend some time there, and we are happy to do so.
"We are still deciding on the city for this tournament – it might be Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban. There will be two Spanish teams travelling there. We have also organised a tournament for kids there in South Africa, including various other events we are still working on with SAFA.
"I am not sure yet which teams, but we will know soon."
During Ronaldinho's playing days with Barcelona, the Blaugrana travelled to South Africa where they faced Mamelodi Sundowns, but it remains to be seen if they will travel to Africa, with most of their pre-season camps taking place in the United States and Asia of late.
Valencia, who will also celebrate their centenary this year, were also asked about the possibility of heading to Mzansi for the special occasion, but declared they knew nothing of the occasion.
Which two Spanish teams would you like to see travel to South Africa?
