Video: South Africa 2006

On the 2006 tour of South Africa, Sir Alex Ferguson and his squad met former South African president Nelson Mandela at the offices of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg.

The team, who wore blue and red pin badges as a symbol of their support for UNICEF’s HIV/AIDS campaign, 'Unite for Children, United against AIDS,' presented Mandela with a number of gifts to mark his 88th birthday.

Sir Alex and Sir Bobby Charlton handed Mr Mandela a signed shirt, featuring the squad number 88 on the back, as well as a copy of the limited edition United Opus book and a specially-commissioned giant Polaroid print of Sir Alex to be auctioned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Players including UNICEF ambassadors Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joined Sir Alex in paying a special visit to Tygerberg Children’s Hospital in Cape Town to learn how HIV/AIDS impacts on the lives of children within the Western Cape. The United party chatted with the youngsters about their difficulties before taking part in an impromptu kick-about.

More: United returning to South Africa | Manchester United Foundation