GRAEME SMITH SIGNS VIRTUAL UMU JERSEY

South African cricket team captain Graeme Smith, signed the virtual signing pad at the adidas Concept Store in Canal Walk today. The in-store signing facility is an integral part of the Unite Mzansi Unite campaign aimed at uniting all South Africans behind Bafana Bafana and the 2010 FIFA World Cup ™. The campaign which was started last November, sees a giant replica of the Bafana jersey travelling the country in order to gain support for the national team and the World Cup.

This afternoon, it was Smith’s turn to show his support to the UMU campaign by adding his signature among those many thousands already collected on the giant jersey. “The adidas UMU campaign is a really incredible initiative to have this big jersey travelling throughout the country collecting signatures of support for our team and I’m glad to have added mine today,” said Smith after signing on the pad today.

“This is a way of adding my support behind Bafana Bafana as the kickoff of the World Cup draws near and it’s time all South Africans back the team.”

Consumers have been urged to follow in Smith’s footsteps to sign the virtual pad, which is an alternative way of signing the giant jersey if they missed out when the jersey was in their province. Once the consumer signs the electronic stylistic pad, their signature is saved and downloaded onto the adidas signature database. The consumers’ signature will then be scanned onto the giant Bafana Bafana jersey once the campaign has completed.

After signing, Smith performed a shirt swop with a customer whom he gave his Bafana Bafana jersey and took his t-shirt. This was an important symbolism that the adidas UMU campaign has tried to create – by uniting all South Africans behind Bafana Bafana irrespective of their status in society.

“The cricket team will be playing away in the West Indies during the 2010 FIFA World Cup ™ but I’ll make sure we watch as many matches as possible on television from there and I’m confident Aaron Mokoena and the boys will make South Africans proud and do well in the tournament here at home,” he added.