And we are even more honoured to have been invited to be part of the birthday celebrations at Robben Island today.

The entire Santos FC squad, the technical staff, together with a number of staff members will board the ferry to Robben Island at 11am this morning.

There Santos FC will be involved in the programme to celebrate the great man's birthday, as well as KICKING 90 BALLS FOR MADIBA.

Neighbours Ajax Cape Town have also been invited.

But for us at Santos FC, this is a really special occasion to celebrate the life of a man that changed the destiny of a nation.

He symbolises the indomitable nature of the spirit of mankind and his all-encompassing capacity for forgiveness should be an example to us all.

For the sacrifice, for the leadership, for the direction, for the courage, for the charisma, for the love, for the moments, for the 90 years... for all this, we say thank you, Madiba. It has inspired us, it has moved us, it has sustained us.

Now we need to look back at those years and keep Madiba's glorious example in front of us as we tread along the path of the new South Africa.

So today we would like to join the rest of the nation, and the rest of the world, by standing on the rooftops to holler: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MADIBA...enjoy the day.