Jomo Sono is combining his football interests with the fight against rhino poaching in a novel way.

The Jomo Cosmos owner is partnering with Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife to stage a soccer tournament, the Ezemvelo Cup, in Richards Bay on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.  

The aim is to raise awareness of rhino poaching through sport.

Sono attended the tournament in Richards Bay on Saturday.

He says he promised Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO Bandile Mkhize that the winner of the Ezemvelo Cup will have the honour of playing against Jomo Cosmos.

Sono says Mkhize inspired the whole idea in a conversation they had.

“While we were having coffee he started talking to me about his campaign of saving rhinos but also using sport as part of it so I was very impressed so I decided to sponsor the event and also it gives me an opportunity to scout on players because some of the players in the rural areas never got the opportunity to be spotted by some of the talent scouts so that’s how I got involved,” Sono said.

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