Popular demand to allocate 26-year-old defender Yado Mambo the team’s specific shirt number leads to charity auction by National League club

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Ebbsfleet United are auctioning a special Mambo No5 shirt for charity, after defender Yado Mambo became an unlikely hit on social media.

The 26-year-old rose to prominence after Saturday’s televised Vanarama League game between Ebbsfleet and Leyton Orient. The mis-match between his squad number and the 1999 Lou Bega song that bears his name was widely spread on social media.

Joe (@RedAndWhite11) Imagine signing a player called Mambo and not giving him the number 5 shirt. Poor form from Ebbsfleet United. pic.twitter.com/ZFjVGlXRIV

While the club aren’t able to actually change his squad number mid-season – aside from the rules, the No5 shirt is currently occupied by captain Dave Winfield – a special shirt has been made to capitalise on the attention.

The eBay auction of the shirt, which already has a bid for £350, will raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, who were Ebbsfleet’s charity partner for the fixture that raised Mambo’s profile.

Ebbsfleet United FC (@EUFCofficial) Direct eBay link to bid on a one-off Mambo No.5 shirt all in aid of @ProstateUK is here: https://t.co/nHul2eotnj pic.twitter.com/CReY3KT5rf

The person who wins the auction will get the shirt, in XL size, alongside a certificate of authenticity and a signed pic of Mambo holding the shirt.

Ebbsfleet United have also been at pains to note that they first started making this joke themselves when Mambo made his debut for the club during a loan spell six years ago.

Mambo No5 was originally recorded in 1949 by Dámaso Pérez Prado, and in 1999 Bega’s version went to No1 in over 15 countries.