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Robson Sharuko in JOHANNESBURG
The Castle Lager Africa 5s, the continent’s biggest amateur five-aside football tournament, has spread its wings to three more countries on the continent as it flexes its muscles after a successful inaugural edition last year.

Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o, Africa’s most decorated footballer with three UEFA Champions League titles and a four-time CAF African Footballer of the Year, will again be the continental brand ambassador of the tournament.

The former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward, who also won domestic league titles in Spain and Italy, and is now playing in Qatar, said he will always give a helping hand when it comes to the development of African football.

Eto’o played a leading role in trying to keep the 2019 AFCON finals, which will feature 24 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history, in his native Cameroon before the tourney was moved to Egypt because of concerns over inadequate preparations.

He will host the eventual winners of this year’s Castle Lager Africa 5s, whose finals will be hosted in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, in Milan, Italy, later this year.

South Africa won the tournament last year, and the team had the privilege to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as part of the package for their triumphant campaign.

Former Warriors midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha will again be the tournament’s brand ambassador for Zimbabwe, and Chris Katongo, who captained Zambia to success at the 2012 AFCON finals, will be the face of the tourney in his country.

This year’s tournament will also feature a women’s tourney, with former Banyana Banyana star Amanda Dhlamini, who is a football pundit on SuperSport, coming in as the brand ambassador for the women league.

“We are thrilled by the return of the Africa 5s League, which is set to be bigger and better than last year’s edition,” Castle Lager brand director Vaughan Croeser said after this year’s tournament was launched in Soweto yesterday.

“The inclusion of women is not only integral in sustaining societal interactions, but an emphasis on Castle Lager’s position of being at the forefront of fortifying bonds and friendships.

“We are excited about the inclusion of Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda as that will expand our football across the African continent and cement Castle Lager’s role of creating and sustaining friendships beyond borders.”

Winners of the tournament will have an all-expenses-paid-for trip to a match in Milan hosted by Eto’o.