The ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa in four months' time - described by its executive director Dr Ali Bacher as "the biggest empowerment project that South African sport as ever embarked upon" - will be backed by the largest galaxy of all-sports heroes yet assembled for any event on the African continent.

At a glittering 1500-seater banquet at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Saturday night, the identities of the 41 African Sport Ambassadors to the 44-day tournament were revealed.

They include legendary Kenyan Olympic middle-distance runner Kip Keino, a trio of Major golf champions in Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, the captain of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winning Springboks, Francois Pienaar, cricketers Graeme Pollock and Basil D'Oliveira, SA soccer heroes Lucas Radebe and Doctor Khumalo, former Formula One world drivers champion Jody Scheckter, Olympic marathon gold medallist Josiah Thugwane, multi-titled swim queen Penny Heyns, and South Africa's 'Mr Paralympics' Fanie Lombaard.

The Ambassadors, who will perform a variety of functions around the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa between 8 February-23 March 2003, were awarded special black and white braided colours blazers by the International Cricket Council's chief executive officer Malcolm Speed.

Dr Bacher thanked the Ambassadors for bringing "their own special brand of dignity and integrity" to the world's most important cricket tournament.

"I don't believe I am exaggerating when I say that ... this represents the biggest gathering of sporting superstars that this country has ever witnessed at any one time."

During the tournament "a veritable army of proud South Africans, including 3000 volunteers, black and white, young and old, would be playing a variety of different to ensure that the dream becomes a reality."

In acclaiming the Ambassadors, Dr Bacher added, "on behalf of South African cricket, to each of you I say, thank you for playing your role in helping us to achieve what I firmly believe is the biggest empowerment project that South African sport has ever embarked upon."

The Minister of Sport, Mr Ngconde Balfour, was unable to attend Saturday night's banquet, but an impressive array of provincial and local government representatives, top United Cricket Board of SA officials Percy Sonn and Gerald Majola, Zimbabwe Cricket Union president Peter Chingoka, leading administrators from the all the sports federations, and the cream of South Africa's business community were present.

Among the Ambassadors honoured were Namibian sprint king Frank Fredericks, Zimbabwean soccer ace Peter Ndlovu, the much-acclaimed deaf swimmer Terence Parkin, javelin gold medallist Marius Corbett, and the Kenyan rated the greatest cross-country of all time, Paul Tergat.

It was a veritable roll-call of honour as the Ambassadors were cheered up to the podium ... high jump queen Hestrie Cloete, SA women's soccer captain Desiree Ellis, football greats Joe Kadenge of Kenya and Marks Maponyane of South Africa, the Paralympics stars Jane Mandean and Zanele Situ, former world 1500m record holder Sydney Maree, fellow middle-distance star Hezekiel Sepeng, and marathon and ultra-distance greats Tegla Loroupe of Kenya and South Africa's Bruce Fordyce and Frith van der Merwe.

Stars of the boxing ring were well represented by world champions in the hugely popular Baby Jake Matlala, Brian Mitchell, Dingaan Thobela, Welcome Ncita and Vuyani Bungu, and rugby union standouts were Chester Williams, Naas Botha and Morne du Plessis.

Ambassadors from the world of tennis are the celebrated South African duo of Amanda Coetzer and Wayne Ferreira, and former Doubles world champion Byron Black of Zimbabwe.

All 41 African Sport Ambassadors will be paraded at the two-hour opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Newlands in Cape Town on February 8 at which South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki will officially open the 54-match tournament.

THE 41 AFRICAN SPORT AMBASSADORS TO THE ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP ARE:

Byron Black

From a prominent sporting family, Byron Black has ensured that Zimbabwe is not a forgotten country in the tennis world. Although he has two singles titles to his credit, it is as a doubles specialist that he is best known, reaching the top spot in the doubles rankings in 1994, the same year that he and Jonathan Stark captured the French Open title. He was also a runner up at Wimbledon in 1996 and in the Australian Open in 1994 and 2001. Together with his brother Wayne, he has been a stalwart of the Zimbabwean Davis Cup team.

Naas Botha

The all-time Golden Boy of South African and Northern Transvaal rugby, Naas Botha was the type of player around whom coaches and players built their strategies. The British Lions dubbed him "Nasty Booter" in grudging admiration for his effectiveness as a points machine, but there was more to his game than simply kicking. Blessed with wonderful handling skills, his vision made him probably the most influential player of his time. He still holds the Springbok record of 242 points in Test matches.

Vuyani Bungu

Along with Welcome Ncita, Vuyani "The Beast" Bungu is a product of Mzi Mnguni's Mdantsane stable, having started to box at the age of 12. Like Ncita, Bungu went on to win the IBF junior featherweight championship. Bungu first claimed the title in 1994 when he beat former Seoul Olympic gold medallist Kennedy McKinney, the man who took Ncita's title, and went on to become the first South African boxer to successfully defend it on 13 occasions. A tough, courageous fighter who crowded into his opponents, wearing them down into submission, he lost only three bouts in an illustrious 40-fight career.

Hestrie Cloete

If long legs are a prerequisite for high jumping, then Hestrie Cloete starts with a considerable advantage. Since 1999 Cloete has been among the forefront of women's high jumpers, setting a South African, African and Commonwealth record of 2,04m in Monaco, claiming the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics, taking gold at the World Championships in Edmonton 2001 and adding another gold to her collection at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Easy going and affable, the farm girl from the North West Province has been the South African Track and Field Athlete of the Year from 1998 to 2001.

Amanda Coetzer

During a time when women's tennis has gradually been dominated by the power game, Amanda Coetzer has typified the virtues of speed, stamina and an unflagging determination to chase down every ball hit to her side of the court. She was ranked in the top 10 for 10 years, reaching No 3 in the world in 1997 and has reached the semifinals of both the French and Australian Opens. Although relatively short in a field in which the leading competitors appear to be growing taller by the year, Coetzer has consistently held her own as a doughty opponent and one of the most popular members of the women's circuit.

Marius Corbett

As a lock forward for the North West Leopards, Marius Corbett may have to stand in a long line before realising an ambition to win a Springbok place, but for a few brief years as a javelin thrower Corbett had the world at his feet. Although he had been a junior record holder, Corbett was relatively unknown when he beat Britain's Steve Buckley into second place to take gold at the 1997 World Championships in Athens with a throw of 88,40m. He bettered that distance in taking gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and then captured another gold at the All Africa Games the following year.

Basil D'Oliveira

Basil D'Oliveira occupies a special place in the histories of South African and English cricket. After growing up in Cape Town, he travelled to England to pursue a career denied him by apartheid in the country of his birth. For Worcestershire and for England he batted with flair and courage and also became a first-class bowler. He was selected for the 1968/69 England tour of South Africa, a tour subsequently cancelled when the South African government objected to his inclusion. It was a time of great bitterness, but the flame, which was eventually to free all South African sportsmen and women, had been lit.

Mornč du Plessis

A big man in every sense of the word, Morne du Plessis embodies the best qualities of South African sport. A tough and uncompromising number eight (just ask Naas Botha!) and a legend at Newlands, he proved to be an inspirational Springbok captain, leading South Africa to a famous series victory over the 1980 British Lions. His contribution did not end when he retired as a player. As manager of the 1995 Rugby World Cup squad he played an enormous role in cultivating the pride, passion and team-spirit that took South Africa to the William Webb Ellis trophy.

Desiree Ellis

Captain of Banyana Banyana, the South African women's soccer team, since 1994, Desiree Ellis once had to choose between her job and her sport. Fortunately the diminutive midfielder from Cape Town now has more sympathetic employers and the sacrifice turned out to be worthwhile. She led Banyana Banyana to the African Cup of Nations final in 2000 and to their first trophy in 2002 when they beat Zambia 2-1 in the final of the Cosafa Cup. She received a Silver Presidential Sports Award in 2000 for her services to football.

Ernie Els

He's known as "The Big Easy", but Ernie Els made it seem anything but as he kept South Africans glued to their seats on a dramatic Sunday evening in 2002 before lifting the biggest prize in golf. Ernie's triumph in that British Open added to his 1994 and 1997 US Open triumphs and re-established him as one of the modern game's great players. He had a quiet 2001, despite helping Retief Goosen capture the World Cup for South Africa, but with the famous Claret Jug now safely in his trophy cabinet, Ernie has warned Tiger Woods that he would be unwise to rest on his laurels.

Wayne Ferreira

Prodigiously talented, Wayne Ferreira is on of that rare breed of tennis professionals capable of beating any opponent on any surface. Although Grand Slam titles have remained frustratingly elusive, he has won 14 career singles titles, 10 doubles titles and an Olympic silver medal in the doubles. As a junior he was the top-ranked doubles player in the world in 1989 and he spent eight consecutive seasons ranked in the ATP tour top 50. Despite his tour commitments, Ferreira has invariably found time to represent South Africa in the Davis Cup where, playing for his country, he produced some of his most memorable performances.

Bruce Fordyce

After his third victory in the Comrades Marathon, the headline writers were on a roll: "Four-dyce", "Five-dyce", "Six-dyce", "Seven-dyce", "Eight-dyce" and finally "Nine-dyce". Slight of build and flaxen-haired, Bruce Fordyce carried both the Comrades and ultra-distance running in South Africa into the modern era. It is to understate the case to claim that Fordyce's nine victories transformed the grueling race into the highly professional event it is today, but he has also ensured that the best traditions of the Comrades were not lost. And just to prove that he was more than a one-track pony, he won the London-to-Brighton Marathon three time in the 1980s.

Frank Fredericks

While Africa has long been seen as a rich source of middle and long-distance runners, it took Frankie Fredericks to demonstrate that the continent could also sprint. He claimed silver medals in both the 100m and 200m at the Barcelona Olympics and then took the gold over 200m at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart. Since then he has been Africa's outstanding sprinter, not to mention Namibia's most famous sporting son. He repeated his silver achievements in Atlanta in 1996, has held the world records over both distances and has been, almost incidentally, the African record holder since 1991.

Retief Goosen

As a youngster Retief Goosen was struck by lightning. This narrow escape, however, has not prevented him from joining golf's elite. His dramatic victory in the 2001 US Open in Tulsa, when he three-putted the final hole and had to return the following day to beat Mark Brooks in a playoff, enabled him to join Gary Player and Ernie Els as the only three South Africans to win a US Open. He also won the Scottish and Madrid Opens in 2001 and, with Els, claimed the World Cup for South Africa. South Africa's Golfer of the Year for 2002.

Penny Heyns

Penny Heyns became South Africa's golden girl in Atlanta in 1996 when she became the first woman in Olympic history to win both the 100m and 200m breaststroke. She claimed her first world record over 100m in Durban during the same year and during an amazing career broke the world record 14 times. During an extraordinary streak in 1999, she set 11 world times in three months, with four of the records coming over two days during a meet in Los Angeles. A true patriot, she had a Springbok tattooed on her shoulder prior to the 1996 Olympics.

Joe Kadenge

In his time he has been a taxi driver, but he has also had his likeness depicted on a postage stamp and had a street in Mombasa named after him. By the estimation of most Kenyans, Joe Kadenge is the greatest footballer ever produced by his country. A stalwart for Abaluhya Football Club, which was later to become the famous AFC Leopards, Kadenge's dazzling skills and close control ensured that he was an automatic choice for the Harambee Stars (the Kenyan national team) for 14 years before his retirement in 1968. He is currently the team manager of the Harambee Stars.

Kip Keino

Kenya's most celebrated athlete, Kip Keino put Africans in the forefront of middle to long distance running. A multiple world record holder, he was equally formidable over distances anywhere between 1 500 and 5 000m. He took gold and set a new Olympic 1 500m record in Mexico in 1968 after having to jog a mile to the stadium because his taxi was stuck in traffic. Then he won silver in the 5 000m despite a gall bladder infection. At Munich four years later he was the 3 000m steeplechase champion and took another silver in the 1 500m. A giant among African athletes, he has devoted his life to the Kip Keino Children's Home for abandoned children in Eldoret, Kenya. Kip Keino is a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Doctor Khumalo

Slick, smooth and stylish, Doctor Khumalo was there at the beginning when South Africa re-entered international football against Cameroon in 1992, scoring Bafana Bafana's only goal Remarkably, he earned his 50th cap for Bafana Bafana in 2001. A legend at Kaizer Chiefs, the club for whom he paraded his silky skills despite brief sojourns in Argentine and the US, where he played for Columbus Crew in the Major Soccer League, "The Doctor's" languid grace on the ball concealed the heart of a fierce competitor. Perhaps no other South African has quite captured the imagination of the public in the manner of Khumalo who remains a hero to millions of AmaKhosi fans.

Fanie Lombaard

Fanie Lombaard is Mr Paralympics of South Africa. A former provincial rugby player, he suffered an injury while playing rugby league that turned gangrenous and had to have his leg amputated. Through the Paralympics he re-invented himself as an icon of disabled sport. In Atlanta he won two golds and set two world records in the shot put and the javelin, and won bronze in the discus. In the 2000 Paralympics he won three gold medals (discus, shot put and pentathlon) and a silver (javelin). He broke the world records for the shot put and the discus at the World Championships in Lille in 2002.

Tegla Loroupe

Standing just 1,49m tall and weighing in at less than 39kg, Tegla Loroupe became the first African women to win a major marathon in New York in 1994. Since then she has become the fastest female marathon runner of all time with a 2:20 run in Berlin in 1999. She developed her talent by running six miles to and from school every day and has gone on to set a world record time over 20 000m as well as an African record for the 10 000m. But it has been for her dominance of women's marathon running that the tiny and courageous Kenyan is justly famous.

Jane Mandean

Jane Mandean has been one of the stalwarts of the Amakrokokroko team for some years now. Mandean, who competes in the cerebral palsy category in athletics for the disabled, has been a world record holder in the shot put (with a throw of 7,50m) and the javelin (17,23m). At the Sydney Paralympics, where the South African team won 38 medals, the multi-talented athlete won bronze despite competing against the strongest discus field seen at the Games for some years. Mandean has continued to impress and at the World Championships in Lille in 2002, won bronze in the shot put.

Marks Maponyane

Astute and articulate, Marks Maponyane is today one of the continents most respected commentators on football. Before this, though, he was an equally admired, and well travelled, striker for Kaizer Chiefs, Dynamos, Orlando Pirates, Wits and, of course, South Africa in a career that spanned the best part of two decades. The only player to be named South Africa's Player of the Year on three occasions, Maponyane won 13 caps for Bafana Bafana after making his debut against Zimbabwe in 1992, scoring twice. In many ways, Maponyane will always be acclaimed as a footballer's footballer.

Sydney Maree

Originally from Atteridgeville in Pretoria, Sydney Maree left South Africa in 1977 to put his obvious talents to the test on a bigger stage. So successful was he that a 3:29:77 time set in 1985 remains the American record for the 1 500m. In 1983 he broke the world 1 500m record and at various times he held the American records for the mile, the 3 000m and the 5 000m. Initially restricted to college athletics because of his South African passport, Maree eventually represented the US at two Olympics and at a World Cup. He is now a successful businessman in South Africa.

Baby Jake Matlala

The shortest world champion in boxing history, Baby Jake Matlala was also blessed with a heart that would have done credit to a heavyweight as he captured four world titles in a career that spanned 30 years. He ended his career in 2002, stepping out of the ring unbeaten after stopping Juan Herrara in the seventh round of a bout watched by, among others, Nelson Mandela. Just 1.48m tall, Matlala was busy and courageous in the ring and polite and dignified out of it. He is a true giant of South African boxing.

Brian Mitchell

As an apprentice professional, Brian Mitchell was known as "the Black boxer in a White skin" because he learned much of his craft fighting in the townships around Johannesburg. Later he became "The Road Warrior" as he defended his WBA world junior lightweight title no fewer than 12 times away from South Africa, often before hostile and unwelcoming crowds. A busy, efficient fighter with a tight defence and the skill to pick off opponents, he achieved the rare distinction of being able to retire undefeated in 1991 with a career record that included 41 victories, three draws and only one defeat. He is now a successful manager and trainer.

Welcome Ncita

Like his schoolboy friend Vuyani Bungu, Welcome Ncita came out of East London's Mdantsane township, learning to fight in the Nyameko High School where he and Bungu used to take it in turn to throw punches at the gymnasium's only heavy bag. A classical stylist who fought from the outside, he became the IBF junior featherweight champion in 1990 before eventually retiring with 37 wins from 40 bouts. Unlike so many of his contemporaries, Ncita used his success shrewdly to become a capable businessman, but more importantly for boxing he has already trained his first world champion.

Peter Ndlovu

Peter Ndlovu made his mark on Zimbabwean football with the first goal in a 4-1 defeat of South Africa's Bafana Bafana in 1994. In all he has scored 30 goals in 61 appearances for his country, but it has been as a well-travelled professional in England that he has earned the widest acclaim. A tricky winger with pace and control, Ndlovu's surname has baffled a generation of English commentators, but there was no mistaking the "Und-love" who once netted a hat-trick against mighty Liverpool at Anfield. He is still a legend at Zimbabwe's Highlanders Football Club.

Terence Parkin

Terence Parkin, the deaf swimmer, was so proud of the silver medal he won at the Sydney Olympics for the 200m breaststroke that he wore it to bed on the night he won it. It was more than just a success for him, the KwaZulu-Natal swimmer said, but for all deaf people around the world. The International Deaf Sports Federation agreed with him and at the Deaflympics in Rome in 2001 he was named as the Federation's Sportsman of 2000. Parkin has never let his disability hinder him and also won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2001 Goodwill Games.

Francois Pienaar

Who could ever forget the sight of Francois Pienaar and Nelson Mandela on the winner's podium at Ellis Park on June 24, 1995, both clad in Springbok No 6 jerseys after South Africa had beaten New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup Final? "We didn't win this for 60 000 people, we won it for 43-million," said the Springbok captain in tribute to the Rainbow Nation. Pienaar had a distinguished player career for Transvaal, South Africa and, later, Saracens in England, but it will be for that brief shining moment when he and the world's most famous statesman held the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft that he will be best remembered.

Gary Player

Gary Player is generally held to be the most successful global golfer of all time. He won 160 titles worldwide and is one of only five golfers to have won all four Major titles. Player, habitually dressed in black, won his first of nine Majors in 1959 when he claimed the British Open, a title he was to win again in 1968 and 1974, the only man to triumph in this championship over three separate decades. He represented South Africa in 16 World Cups before turning his attention to the Seniors Tour, where, if anything, he was to prove even more successful. A renowned course architect who has designed more than 200 courses world wide, Player was named as South Africa's Sportsman of the Century in 2000.

Graeme Pollock

The prince of left-handers, Graeme Pollock was named South Africa's Cricketer of the Century at the turn of the Millennium. The fact that the accolade provoked no debate whatsoever indicates his stature in the game. He was South Africa's youngest single and double centurion before embarking on a Test career that took in 23 Test matches and brought him 2 256 runs at an average of 60,97 - an average bettered only by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman. For many years Pollock held the South African record for the highest Test score - 274 - and he is still revered wherever the game is played.

Nick Price

There was a time when Nick Price was thought of as golf's Nearly Man. The Zimbabwean had led the 1982 British Open at Royal Troon going into the final round, but faltered on the last day. Then came 1994, and this time there was no denying him at Turnberry. For good measure, he added the US PGA title later in the year. Long one of the most popular members of the professional tour, Price is a particular favourite at Sun City where he has won the Million Dollar Challenge three times. His showings in 2002 suggest there might still be another Major title in him.

Lucas Radebe

South Africa's most famous and best-loved footballing export, Lucas Radebe has become a father figure to Bafana Bafana after a classic rags to riches career. He was once a township roustabout before establishing himself first with Kaizer Chiefs, then with South Africa and latterly with English Premier League club Leeds United. As recognisable now in the north of England as he is in Soweto, "Roo" captained South Africa to the FIFA World Cup for the second time this year. He has battled with injuries in recent times, but he has already made a massive contribution to South African football.

Jody Scheckter

It is sometimes hard to believe that a curly-haired boy from East London could have reached the top in the glamorous world of Formula One racing, but that is the Jody Scheckter story. He first earned a place in the McLaren team as a 22 year old before moving to Tyrell where he twice finished third in the World Drivers Championship in three years. Second in the Championship behind Nike Lauda in 1977, Scheckter moved to Ferrari in1979 to immediately claim the coveted World Champion title. One of the most popular drivers of his time, Scheckter retired in 1980 as the winner of 10 Grand Prixs.

Hezekiel Sepeng

Perhaps the most talented middle distance runner to come out of South Africa, Hezekiel Sepeng established himself as one of the world's best with a storming run to grab the 800m silver medal at the 1996 Olympics. Another silver followed for the Potchefstrooom runner at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and he won bronze at the All Africa Games in Johannesburg in 1999. He posted a best-ever time of 1:42,69 in Brussels in 1999, finishing second behind the legendary Wilson Kipketer. Over 800m, only nine men have run faster than Sepeng.

Zanele Situ

Zanele Situ became the first black female South African to win a gold medal at a Paralympics, but had to overcome a severe case of nerves to do so. When she woke up on the day she was due to take part in the javelin competition in Sydney, the trainee seamstress from a small, rural village outside of Umtata got a case of the jitters about competing in front of so many people. Once there, though, she broke the world record in the spinal injury category an incredible four times to take gold. She backed it up with silver in the discus.

Paul Tergat

Recognised as the greatest cross-country runner of all time, Paul Tergat took no part in organised sport until he was 20. But when he did start running, only the very best could stay with him. He was the world cross-country champion five times between 1995 and 1999, a half-marathon world record holder and twice world champion over the distance. Now that he has turned his attention to the marathon, he is tipped to be the first man to dip under two hours and four minutes for the distance. A silver medallist at the Sydney Olympics over 10 000m, he is also a former world record holder over the same distance.

Dingaan Thobela

"The Rose of Soweto", so-called because he used to toss roses into the crowd at ringside, Dingaan Thobela is one of the most richly gifted boxers ever produced by South Africa. He won two world lightweight titles (WBO and WBA) in 1990 and 1991 respectively, and 10 years after his first world title he lifted the WBC super middleweight crown when he beat Glenn Catley with a last round knockout. A scientific boxer with a sound defence, he could fire the left uppercut off the left jab, a talent given to only a very few fighters.

Josiah Thugwane

Midway through the marathon at the 1996 Olympics, commentators began to ask "Josiah who?" An hour or so later they had the answer. Josiah Thugwane had qualified for Atlanta by winning the South African championships earlier in the year, and he went on to demonstrate his quality as a distance runner with the Olympic gold. His victory was all the more remarkable for the fact that he had been shot in the face during an attempted hijacking in the months leading up to Atlanta. He set a new South African record in Japan the following year and now coaches budding marathoners.

Frith van der Merwe

Experts began to sit up and take notice of Frith van der Merwe in 1988 when she set a new women's Comrade's Marathon 'up run' record of 6:32:56. The following year, however, Van der Merwe smashed all preconceptions about women runners with an amazing 5:54:43 to place 15th overall and leave dozens of excellent male runners in her wake. It is a record that still stands and one of the most remarkable achievements in the rich history of the ultra-marathon. She was also to win in 1991, but her 1989 race will never be forgotten.

Chester Williams

In some respects Chester Williams' role as a pioneer of black rugby has tended to overshadow his attributes as a powerful, pacy winger, capable of finishing half-chances with a minimum of time and space in which to work. He will, however, always be remembered for South Africa's triumphant 1995 World Cup campaign when he came back, after injury, to grab four tries in the Springboks' quarter-final demolition of Western Samoa. One of many heroes in the side which overcame the All Blacks in the RWC Final on that famous Saturday afternoon at Ellis Park, he is now an astute coach of the Springbok Sevens team.

© World Cup Organising Committee