
'Nelson Mandela Day' —
English team Sunderland plans to celebrate its recent collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation by designating Saturday's game against Manchester United at the Stadium of Light as "Nelson Mandela Day."

A season of racism —
Sunderland hopes to utilize the foundation's expertise to raise greater awareness of social issues, such as inclusion and diversity and support football's quest to eradicate racism from within the game. This season has seen a spate of racist incidents, notably in January when AC Milan forward Kevin-Prince Boateng walked off the pitch in a friendly after being racially abused.

Africa deal —
Sunderland signed a two-year partnership agreement with Invest in Africa in June 2012, which has seen the not-for-profit organization's logo displayed on the club's shirts. Tullow Oil is the founding partner in the initiative which seeks to promote investment in Africa while at the same time opening up a new market to the Premier League team.

Miliband influence —
Labour MP David Miliband helped Sunderland secure the African sponsorship deal. "This is a landmark announcement for Sunderland and a landmark for the Premier League," the club's vice-chairman Miliband said in June 2012. The former foreign secretary, pipped to Labour's leadership by his younger brother Ed in 2010, has since announced he is quitting politics to join U.S.-based charity International Rescue.

Africa's image —
"The image of Africa is often one of poverty and conflict, but there is another reality," added Miliband at the time of the deal's signing. "The African Investment Bank estimates there are 300 million middle-class people in Africa. This is the biggest international venture in the club's history." Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner is pictured here at the sponsorship launch.

World Cup hosts —
South Africa was awarded the right to stage the 2010 World Cup in 2004. It was a moment of great joy for former South African president Mandela.

South Africa icon —
A day after his release from prison in February 1990, Mandela was greeted by thousands of South Africans at the Orlando stadium.

'We love you father' —
South African schoolchildren sang happy birthday to Mandela when he turned 94 on July 18, 2012 -- officially known as "Nelson Mandela Day." The nation's 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special song, singing: "We love you father."