Andrew Watson: The 'most influential' black footballer for decades lost to history

-
Image
  By Andrew Aloia BBC Sport Last updated on 11 October 2021 11 October 2021 . From the section Football Watson was a trailblazer who helped transform how football was played There are two murals of black footballers facing one another across an alleyway in Glasgow. One helped shape football as we know it, the other is Pele. Andrew Watson captained Scotland to a 6-1 win over England on his debut in 1881. He was a pioneer, the world's first black international, but for more than a century the significance of his achievements went unrecognised. Research conducted over the past three decades has left us with some biographical details: a man descended of slaves and of those who enslaved them, born in Guyana, raised to become an English gentleman and famed as one of Scottish football's first icons. And yet today, 100 years on from his death aged 64, Watson remains something of an enigma, the picture built around him a fractured one. His grainy, faded, sepia image evokes many differen...
Post a Comment

Capitec and Absa say 'fake billionaire' lied about partnerships

-

 


accreditation
0:00
play article
SUBSCRIBERS CAN LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE
Mandla Lamba.
Mandla Lamba.
File

Capitec and Absa have denied that they are in partnership with "fake billionaire" Mandla Lamba, after he repeatedly used their credentials in a new sales pitch for his company Agilitee.

Lamba previously claimed to be South Africa's youngest billionaire and a mining tycoon, but various reports confirmed he had lied about his business holdings. 

He was arrested a decade ago on counts of fraud and theft, and in 2015, was sentenced to ten years in jail for culpable homicide after he was involved in a car accident that killed a father and his eight-year old son in Roodepoort. 

Last week, TV personality Somizi Mhlongo featured Lamba on an Instagram broadcast, with the latter making an offer to Mhlongo's followers to buy shares in his new company at a "special" price. 

Mhlongo has 4.1 million Instagram followers, and is paid by companies to act as an "influencer".

During the broadcast, Lamba claimed that Agilitee will produce four models of electric bikes, including the "Agilitee Somizi" inspired by Mhlongo, and that Absa and Capitec were "stakeholders" in his new venture.

Lamba said that Agilitee formed a partnership with Capitec, who will provide instalment credit for bike buyers, while Absa will fund franchisees of Agilitee.

But Capitec and Absa told Fin24 that they have no relationship with Agilitee. 

"The use of our brand, in [Agilitee's] marketing material, is without authorisation and subsequent to our communication, they have agreed to stop using it," an Absa spokesperson added.

Following criticism of Lamba's appearance on his Instagram page, Mhlongo told Fin24 that he doesn't do due diligence on the companies that use him as an influencer. He added that while Lamba served jail time, he was rehabilitated and that everyone deserved a second chance.

Agilitee also issued a statement following the criticism, saying it is proud of its founder for "even overcoming prison".

During the Instagram broadcast, Somizi told Lamba that he "spoke like a president", while the latter urged viewers to "stop doubting".

In response to comments that viewers have been struggling to get a response from Agilitee via email or its telephone lines, Lamba said that they must have used the incorrect the email address, and that his company employed 11 call centre agents.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For only R75 per month, you have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today.
Subscribe to News24
READ MORE ON:
ABSACAPITECSOMIZI MHLONGOMANDLA LAMBA
More from

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If everyone on Earth sat in the ocean at once, how much would sea level rise?

-
Image
  There are a lot of people, but the oceans are very big.   Rosley Majid/EyeEm via Getty Images If everyone on Earth sat in the ocean at once, how much would sea level rise? March 29, 2021 2.07pm SAST Author Tony E. Wong Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology Disclosure statement Tony E. Wong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Partners Rochester Institute of Technology  provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. The Conversation is funded by the National Research Foundation, eight universities, including the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Rhodes University, Stellenbosch University and the Universities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pretoria, and South Africa. It is hosted by the Universities of the Witwatersrand and Wester...
Read more

Andrew Watson: The 'most influential' black footballer for decades lost to history

-
Image
  By Andrew Aloia BBC Sport Last updated on 11 October 2021 11 October 2021 . From the section Football Watson was a trailblazer who helped transform how football was played There are two murals of black footballers facing one another across an alleyway in Glasgow. One helped shape football as we know it, the other is Pele. Andrew Watson captained Scotland to a 6-1 win over England on his debut in 1881. He was a pioneer, the world's first black international, but for more than a century the significance of his achievements went unrecognised. Research conducted over the past three decades has left us with some biographical details: a man descended of slaves and of those who enslaved them, born in Guyana, raised to become an English gentleman and famed as one of Scottish football's first icons. And yet today, 100 years on from his death aged 64, Watson remains something of an enigma, the picture built around him a fractured one. His grainy, faded, sepia image evokes many differen...
Read more

Are there any planets outside of our solar system?

-
Image
  Academic rigour, journalistic flair COVID-19 Arts  +  Culture Business  +  Economy Education Environment  +  Energy Health  +  Medicine Politics Science  +  Technology In French Artist illustration of an exoplanet.  dottedhippo/iStock via Getty Images Are there any planets outside of our solar system? July 19, 2021 2.06pm SAST Author Jean-Luc Margot Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles Disclosure statement Jean-Luc Margot receives funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and philanthropists. Partners University of California  provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation US. The Conversation is funded by the National Research Foundation, eight universities, including the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Rhodes University, Stellenbosch University and the Universities of Cape Town, Johannesb...
Read more