Today is the anniversary of the battles of Isandlawana and Rorke’s Drift.  While a renactment will not take place at Isandlwana because of late organisation, an historic football match has been arranged today at Rorke’s Drift by Charles Aikenhead of the Rorke’s Drift Hotel.

The game will feature a British team versus Zulu team at the local stadium.

And the team sheets are in for the Battle of Rorke’s Drift commemorative football match.

The match, scheduled for January 22, will be contested between a team of locals (representing the Zulu troops), and a group of players from Dundee, the local rural community and some British workers on contract in Johannesburg (representing the British troops). Each player will have a specially designed kit bearing the name of one of the participants in the battle.
The Zulu team wearing the black strip are:
Mnyamane – Commander of Undi Corps; Manzini – Commander of Nkonkone Regiment; Usibepu – Commander of Udhloko Corps; Nduvana – Commander of Umbonambi Corps;
Umzilikazi – Commander of Nokenke Regiment; Umfusi – Commander of Umlambo-ngwenya Corps; Makinde – Commander of Udukuza Corps; Ugodide – Commander of Udhlambedhlu Corps; Mundula – Commander of Nodwengu Corps; Utyani – Commander of Mbubi Regiment; Somcuba – Commander of Umcityu Corps; Dabulamanzi – Commander of Tulwana Regiment; half brother of King Cetchwayo; leader of the Corps that came to attack ‘Kwa Jimu’; Ubizo – Officer in the Tulwana Regiment; Sihayo – Officer in the Undabakaombi Regiment; Chief of The King’s household and his favourite.
The British troops wearing the red strip are:
Chard – Lieutenant John, Royal Engineers. Commanding defence of Rorke’s Drift Mission station. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Bromhead – Lieutenant Gonville, 2/24th Regiment. Commanding B Company at the Mission Station, Rorke’s Drift. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Reynolds – Surgeon-Major James, Army Medical Corps. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Dalton – James Langley, Commissariat & Transport Department. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Hitch – Private Frederick, B Coy 2/24th. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Williams – Private John (born Fielding), B Coy 2/24th. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Shiess – Corporal Ferdinand, Natal Native Contingent, Recipient of Victoria Cross and the only Swiss national to receive the award.
Jones 56 – Private Robert, B Coy 2/24th. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Jones 59 – Private William, B Coy 2/24th. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Allen – Private William, B Coy 2/24th. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Hook – Private William, B Coy 2/24th. Recipient of Victoria Cross; Bourne – Colour Sergeant Frank, 2/24th. Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Gallaher – Sergeant Henry, B Coy 2/24th. Recipient of Meritorious Service Medal; and Smith – Sergeant George, B Coy 2/24th
The game will kick-off at 4pm on January 22 at the Rorke’s Drift Stadium. Refreshments will be served at the museum after the game. There will be a braai with a meal deal at R50 per person which includes a burger, salad and a soft drink in the battlefield car park.