Manchester City made a low-key entry into South Africa on Thursday ahead of Manuel Pellegrini's first game in charge of the deposed Premier League champions.
The tour forms the first leg of City's pre-season preparations, with matches against local clubs SuperSport United and AmaZulu over the next seven days as part of the celebrations for ailing former South African President Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday next week.
Pellegrini will take charge for the first time on Sunday against SuperSport United in Pretoria after the Chilean signed a three-year-deal last month to replace Roberto Mancini.
"I happened to read a lot about South Africa when I was younger and followed with passion what happened in South Africa because of the fact that Nelson Mandela was one of my heroes," Kompany told the media on Thursday from City's hotel in Durban.
"He was one of my examples and I carry a lot of what he taught me and my family through the books I read on him.'