Fir Park salute to Nelson Mandela
The former South African president died last night at the age of 95 prompting a mix of mourning and celebration for an incredible life.
An announcement on the Motherwell twitter account said: “There will be minute of applause prior to tonight’s game to celebrate the life & contribution of anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela.”
No announcement has been made by the SPFL about repeating the gesture at tomorrow’s matches across Scotland. Last weekend a minute’s silence was held at all Scottish Cup matches for the victims of the Clutha helicopter tragedy.
A number of English clubs have announced that they will hold a minute of applause before their matches with an official announcement expected by the FA Premiership to celebrate the life of the former South African president.
Mandela was an enthusiastic sportsman taking a prominent role in South Africa’s World Cup triumph in 1995 and was the driving force behind the decision to take the 2010 FIFA World Cup to South Africa.
As news emerged of his death last night tributes were paid from various sources including the Conservative Party who did nothing to denounce apartheid in South Africa throughout the eighties.
Led by the late Margaret Thatcher the British government viewed Mandela as a terrorist before performing a 180 degree change of opinion on his release.
Speaking at the opening of the 2010 World Cup Mandela said: “The people of Africa learnt the lessons of patience and endurance in their long struggle for freedom. May the rewards brought by the Fifa World Cup prove that the long wait for its arrival on African soil has been worth it. Ke nako (It is our time).”