JN to meet NM! King of African football

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Dons assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl is relishing the prospect of an audience with the King of African football next week.

And it could lead to Nicholl and Pittodrie pal Jimmy Calderwood meeting the most famous African ever ... the legendary Nelson Mandela.

The Dons fly out a week tomorrow for a two-week trip that will see them based in Johannesburg and play four matches.

Irishman Nicholl is particularly relishing the two clashes against Jomo Cosmos ... because they are named after and coached by one of his former team-mates, Ephraim "Jomo" Sono.

They played together for Canadian club Toronto Blizzard in the early 1980s.

But Sono has come a long way since those days, when they competed in the now defunct North American Soccer League.

He is now a multi-millionaire and named Jomo Cosmos after himself when he bought the club in 1982.

Sono is known as the "King of African football" and rubs shoulders with the rich and famous, including Mandela ... his next door neighbour!

When you take in all of that it is understandable that Nicholl was as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve when we chatted about next week's trip in, of all places, the referees' changing room at Pittodrie.

"It will be marvellous to meet up with Jomo again," said Jimmy, who was in the process of towelling himself down after a shower because he was in a rush to make another appointment.

"It doesn't surprise me that Jomo bought a club and named it after himself because he loves his football. He is also going to be a key figure when South Africa begin the build-up to hosting the 2010 World Cup finals.

"When we meet again it will be a laugh a minute because it was always like that when we were in Canada.

"I've spoken to Jomo on the phone and has already promised to take Jimmy and I next door to see Mr Mandela, if he is around!

"I thought he was on a wind-up at first because Jomo, like me, enjoys doing that to people.

"But John Morgan (Dons security boss) and Dave Johnston (general manager) went out to Africa to check things out for the club a few weeks ago. Jomo took them to his house and it really is right next door to Mandela's.

"It would be great if the meeting came off.

"It's not often that Jimmy is outshone by anyone, but he will find it hard to hog the limelight with those two around!"

Jomo was a big name in South Africa as a player in the 1970s and 1980s.

Twice named South Africa's player of the year, he was capped by his country before going on to make his fortune in the USA with New York Cosmos, alongside the likes of Pele and Franz Beckenbaur.

He also managed the South African national team at the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan/Korea.

Jimmy chose to stop the towelling and his face lit up with a broad smile as he remembered his own spell playing alongside Jomo in Canada.

"Jomo was coming to the end of his career, but was still a great talent," he said.

"He was being called the George Best of Africa after that spell in New York alongside Pele and Beckenbaur. Having played with both Jomo and Best I could see why.

"I was a bit wary about going to Canada but I had fallen out with Ron Atkinson at Manchester United and was forced to train with the kids at Old Trafford.

"With Northern Ireland due to play in the World Cup finals in Spain, I knew I had to get out of United if I wanted to be in the squad.

"But thanks to Jomo I ended up loving the spell in Canada so much I spent two successive summer seasons there.

"Jomo was carrying a knee injury, so had slowed a bit.

"But he still had all the tricks when he got on the ball.

"He was a real crowd entertainer, just like the great George."

Jimmy then laughed loudly before adding: "He was always larger than life.

"It doesn't surprise me he is now one of the most wealthy men in South Africa.

"He was always wheeling and dealing, selling cars to people back home and investing his money.

"He was the first in South Africa to secure a franchise with Kentucky Fried Chicken - he is a master businessman."