GIANT ADIDAS BAFANA BAFANA JERSEY
adidas unveils Giant Bafana Bafana jersey to mark the last Football Friday
Unite Mzansi Unite
adidas, official sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, have unveiled the giant Bafana Bafana jersey which bears signatures and messages of support from hundreds of thousands Bafana Bafana fans. The giant jersey –which is 60 metres by 48 metres big was unveiled at the Cape Town Stadium to mark the last Football Friday -a concept that saw South Africans wearing the colours of their national team every Friday in the days leading to the 2010 FIFA World Cup ™.
The giant jersey was the central tool in adidas’ Unite Mzansi Unite campaign whose aim was to unite South Africans behind the World Cup and the National team – Bafana Bafana. The massive yellow jersey toured the rest of South Africa over seven months:
- covering a distance of 27, 000 kilometres,
- visiting more than 300 towns & villages and
- passing through all 9 provinces South Africa and
- all the host cities receiving an overwhelming welcome along the way.
“We decided to unveil the giant jersey in one of the World Cup venues in order to mark the last Football Friday and to say thank you to all South Africans for uniting behind the World Cup and Bafana Bafana. We have certainly showed the World how united we are in our purpose to deliver a spectacular event and the final on Sunday will be a real cherry on top,” says Zobuzwe Ngobese, the Public Relations Manager at adidas South Africa.
The UMU campaign has not only touched South Africans as it had a very big global arm to it. Football fans from around the world were introduced to the yellow headband –known as the UMU a month before the tournament. This item has been sold globally at retail stores and all proceeds from the sales will go towards the 46664 –a Nelson Mandela charity organisation. Fans from South Africa and rest of the world have been wearing these yellow headbands at World Cup matches –something which created a sea of yellow at the stadiums –particularly when South Africa was playing. Some players also wore the UMUs on the field of play to show their support for charity.
“We are pleased that during all the three Bafana Bafana matches –the stadium was painted in yellow and more pleasing is the fact that the enthusiasm of South Africans continues all the way irrespective of whether our team is still there or not. That is what our campaign was all about –to unite South Africans behind the event,” adds Ngobese.
Some prominent people who have been part of the campaign include President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Danny Jordaan and Lucas Radebe. Musicians, actors and South African sports personalities also embraced the campaign.
Ordinary South Africans on the streets were equally touched by the campaign when the giant jersey reached their towns and villages while other locals offered to support UMU by showcasing their talents through song, dance and performances during truck stops in their areas.
With the jersey revealed, adidas has plans to leave a legacy long after the World Cup has gone. Certain high profile people and personalities who signed the jersey will have their signatures cut from the replica jersey, framed and auctioned on eBay. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Nelson Mandela 46664 charity organizations.
“As the world’s leading football brand, it was very important for us to leave a legacy after the campaign had finished. We have decided to select 11 signatures from prominent South Africans who signed the jersey and we will have pieces of their signatures framed for people to purchase on ebay -in order to raise funds and awareness for the great work the Nelson Mandela charity is doing,” adds Ngobese.
All South Africans that signed on the jersey will be able to say they were part of this historic event which was held on the African continent for the first time. It is expected that the spirit of unity will linger on after the World Cup and this is good news for the South African national team –which now enjoys unprecedented support following their brave at the tournament.
BAFANA PLAYERS RECEIVE PERSONALIZED ‘ELITE SERIES’ FOOTBALL BOOTS
Supercharged boots feature national flag and individual personalization for South African footballers
The recent launch of the latest innovative football boots from Nike is still receiving rave reviews, more so from the footballers who will be donning the Nike Elite Series football boots at the football tournament next month.
While it’s all about the innovation and colourway of the boots that players are commenting most about, 19 Nike-sponsored players from the national team received their special edition Nike Elite Series footwear packs featuring personalization of their boots, during a handover on Friday, May 21.
The supercharged Nike Elite Series football boots were individually personalized with the South African flag, and personal lettering and / or numbering.
Following a presentation by Nike’s footwear specialist on the dynamics of the innovation, the players then received their boots with much excitement.
“The addition of the flag on my boots is inspiring and I will wear my Nike Elite Series with pride,” said Moeneeb Josephs, who simply has his name and the number ‘16’ embroidery on the boots. “It was also great to hear about the latest innovations in the boots, and specifically how we as players can use this to perform better.”
Teko Modise, who makes his 50th appearance for the national squad against Bulgaria on Monday, could not contain his excitement either.
“I have my daughter’s name, Pabi, on my boots and I look forward to running out onto the pitch with my new Mercurial SuperFly’s for my 50th game,” said Modise.
The full list of players who received their Nike Elite Series boots include:
Aaron Mokoena
Andile Jali
Anele Ngcongca
Benni McCarthy
Bernard Parker
Bongani Khumalo
Itumeleng Khune
Kagisho Dikgacoi
Katlego Mphela
Lance Davids
Moeneeb Josephs
Reneilwe Letsholonyane
Shu-Aib Walters
Siboniso Gaxa
Siphiwe Tshabalala
Siyabonga Nomvete
Siyabonga Sangweni
Teko Modise
Thanduyise Khuboni
Nike’s Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II, CTR360 Maestri, Total90 Laser III and Tiempo Legend III all feature new performance upper to improve on-field visibility and reengineered outsole to deliver lightweight performance for every style of player.
Nike designers have reduced the weight of each boot so players can perform at their best. Lightweight construction, intricate engineering, carbon-enforced strength and high contrast colours distinguish the boots.
The Elite Series is available to players at all levels and also incorporates Nike Football+ which features exclusive insider access to the world’s best coaches, players and teams for total game improvement. Nike Football+ Master Series builds expertise in Control, Accuracy and Speed through elite insights and pro training. This includes a special Elite Series signature move from Atletico Madrid and Argentina star Sergio Aguero that will launch at the end of May.
All four Elite Series boots, the Nike Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II, Nike CTR360 Maestri, Nike Total90 Laser III and Nike Tiempo Legend III are available at retail.
SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL
This year, the global spotlight will be on Africa. When it comes to African football, this is a stark contrast from the past and proof of a shifting landscape. The past few years have seen the rise of the ‘African’ star. Premier League clubs now rely heavily on their African players. Think about Chelsea without Essien or Drogba. Manchester City without Adebaor, Everton without Yakubu, Arsenal without Song… The list goes on.
There is a saying that ‘Europe plays football, Africa plays soccer’. The reason for this is a simple matter of style. Europe is all about technique, tactics and discipline. Africa has technique and tactics but more than anything, their greatest asset is passion. It has been one of the biggest frustrations for Bafana Bafana’s (the South African national soccer team) fans. When it comes to a ‘big’ game Bafana can kick ball with the best but stick them in a friendly and they will disappoint you. That’s where the exposure to European football clubs has helped South African players and African players in general. Some of South Africa’s best players have plied their trade in the English Premier League. Quinton Fortune donned the Red of Manchester United while the iconic Bafana captain, Lucas Radebe is a legend amongst Leeds fans. Now the likes of Steven Pienaar and Aaron Mokoena fly the South African flag in one of the world’s greatest Leagues. Benni McCarthy is a UEFA Champions League winner with Porto. He put two past Manchester United on his way to securing a winner medal with Jose Mourinho.
Now Europe comes to Africa and it is a chance for Africa’s greatest talent to shine on home soil. We take a look at some of the bright stars of South African football and zoom in even closer at the playing conditions and boots we can expect to see come June 2010.
So who are the next batch of players to make a noise in Europe? With the World Cup in their backyard, South African’s have a great opportunity to show their worth to the elite. Here are some of the players we think can make a big impact for Bafana and perhaps for a Premier League club come next season.
Itumeleng Khune: The young (just 22 years old) Kaizer Chiefs stopper has become a firm favourite to wear the Bafana number 1 in the World Cup. A brilliant shot stopper, he has been referred to as ‘the biggest goalkeeping talent South African football has produced in recent times’.
Siphiwe Tshabalala: Another Kaizer Chiefs player, Tshabalala is the face of Nike CTR360s in South Africa. A skillful winger and play-maker, Tshabalala is strong, fast and tricky. He resembles James Milner rather than his fellow South African winger Steven Pienaar.
Teko Modise: There was a lot of speculation about Modise and the interest that some clubs showed in the Orlando Pirates winger last summer. Manchester City, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Birmingham City were all rumored to have shown interest in him and a good display at the World Cup could see him receiving some concrete offers.
Siboniso Gaxa: Was one of Bafana’s stand-out players in the Confederations Cup. The Mamelodi Sundowns right back might not be the biggest player (just 5ft 10inch) but his skill and pace make him a threat down any teams flank. A refining of his talent in Europe could produce a real gem.
Katlego Mphela: Mphela made a name for himself after a majestic 30 yard strike against Spain in the Confederations Cup. The Mamelodi Sundowns striker has struggled to maintain his form for the national side but has been prolific in the Premier Soccer League – netting 17 goals and finishing with the Golden Boot.
The boot landscape in South Africa is similar to that of Europe. Nike seems to be the firm favourite amongst South African players with all of the above wearing Nike Vapours (except Tshabalala who wears Superflys). Nine out of the eleven starters against Jamaica in Bafana’s last friendly wore Nike boots.
Under Armour also have an amazingly large market share in the PSL. They sponsor triple champions SuperSport United (who have a partnership with Tottenham Hotspur). Adidas are the official kit suppliers for the federation and boast contracts with players such as Steven Pienaar and Matthew Booth. Puma are possibly the most recognizable brand throughout Africa and their work with nations North of South Africa has been amazing. They are currently behind Nike and Adidas within South Africa but don’t expect this situation to remain for long. Umbro have recently seen their stocks rise throughout the world and it is no different in SA. They also have some ground to make up however.
Most of South Africa experiences its rainy season in the summer, so winter (June/July) is a dry, cold month. The need for long studs is therefore not as important as it is in England. In South Africa, hard ground studs are often used as the playing surfaces are not always as good as the pitches in Europe. You can be sure that the standard has been raised for the upcoming World Cup however.
BAFANA ACKNOWLEDGE UMU SUPPORT
Bafana Bafana players will use the warm up session for the game against Thailand this Sunday as a platform to acknowledge the support that has been shown to them by South African fans that have signed on the adidas Giant Bafana Bafana jersey.
The jersey signing campaign, which is called Unite Mzansi Unite (UMU), all soccer fans that sign the jersey being given the yellow bandana-like items called the UMUs.
“Since November 2009, we have taken the giant Bafana Bafana jersey to all provinces of South Africa in order to rally South Africans behind the World Cup and our team Bafana Bafana. The response that we have got from the fans has been phenomenal and the players would like to wear the yellow adidas item – which has been given to all signatories of the Giant jersey – as an acknowledgement of that support,” says Zobuzwe Ngobese, Public Relations Manager at adidas South Africa.
All Bafana Bafana fans are urged to wear their yellow items as well as their jerseys at all Bafana Bafana games. “From now on we would like to see a sea of yellow whenever Bafana Bafana is playing,” he says.
The Giant jersey is 60 X 48 metres and adidas is expected to show the signed jersey before the kick-off of the World Cup. The leading football brand is also expected to make an important announcement about the significance of these yellow items next week.
BAFANA BAFANA NAME PROVISIONAL 29-MAN SQUAD
Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira named a 29-man provisional squad for the World Cup on Friday.
Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs),
Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates),
Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United),
Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany).
Defenders:
Matthew Booth,
Siboniso Gaxa,
Innocent Mdledle (all Mamelodi Sundowns),
Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United),
Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel),
Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England),
Bryce Moon (PAOK, Greece),
Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium),
Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows),
Lucas Thwala (Pirates).
Midfielders:
Surprise Moriri,
Franklin Cale (both Sundowns),
Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town),
Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England),
Andile Jali,
Teko Modise (both Pirates),
Reneilwe Letsholonyane,
Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Kaizer Chiefs),
Thanduyise Khuboni (Arrows),
Steven Pienaar (Everton, England),
Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia).
Strikers:
Benni MaCarthy (West Ham United, England),
Katlego Mphela (Sundowns),
Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows),
Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Holland).
ADIDAS GIVES BAFANA A WARM WELCOME IN GERMANY
Adidas have gone out of their way to ensure that the South African national football team – Bafana Bafana – have a good and comfortable stay while they spend three weeks for their training camp in Germany.
“The team will be staying at the Ramada Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from the state-of-the-art adidas training ground – the Adi Dassler Sports Platz. We have prepared a media week from the 19th to the 23rd of April 2010, where we will take journalists from around the world on a tour of the our facilities including the Walk of Fame, the Brand Centre and the world famous Scheinfeld factory,” says Zobuzwe Ngobese, the public relations manager at adidas South Africa.
The Bafana Bafana team are expected to travel in luxury Mercedes Buses, which are branded with SAFA, Adidas and the Jabulani ball – something that will make the South Africans easily recognizable in Germany.
The global sports manufacturing company is also expected to launch the ball that will be specifically used during the final of the World Cup next week. Danny Jordaan, Franz Backenbauer, Carlos Alberto Parreira and the Bafana Bafana squad are expected to attend this special Adidas event.
ADIDAS LAUNCHES BAFANA BAFANA AWAY JERSEY
Adidas today launched the South African national football team’s away jersey which they will wear during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.
“The new away kit, which features a unique new mixture of Twilight and Forrest Green will further identify the hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Like the current yellow home jersey, this green jersey is without doubt one of the most important and iconic that adidas, as the National team’s official technical sponsor has ever designed,” says Zobuzwe Ngobese, the PR Manager at adidas South Africa
The green away jersey design was also influenced by the diversity of our country and its 11 main communities and languages spoken – all of which will be unified behind our country and team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The jersey incorporates 11 threads that symbolise this diversity in unity and modern interpretations of traditional South African artwork. It celebrates the pride of our host nation by displaying the centre of the national flag on its front.
The jersey design was also completed with African art print on the collar in order to be consistent with the home jersey.
“We are excited about the final product that adidas has delivered to us following numerous consultations about the design of the jersey. The design of the change strip is consistent with the one seen on the home jersey. Our team now has a complete set of home and away jerseys and we will use both strips with pride during the 2010 FIFA World Cup ™,” says Leslie Sedibe, the chief executive officer of SAFA.
The jersey will be worn for the first time when Bafana Bafana plays Namibia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban this evening.
ADIDAS’ UMU CAMPAIGN GETS THE PRESIDENTIAL SIGNATURE
Bafana Bafana hosted Japan in the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on the 14th of November but it was the current president, Jacob Zuma who held the spotlight. Adidas’ UMU campaign which features a giant replica shirt was boosted when Zuma added his signature to it in a show of support.
He was also handed a replica shirt to wear, complete with ‘Zuma’ and the number ‘1′ on the back.
Read more about Adidas’ Unite Mzansi Unite (UMU) campaign here:
Read more about my experience at the jersey launch and the first ever signing here:
ADIDAS MAKE SOME MAGIC
As I prepare to return home after more than a week of travel, I stopped to think back to all that I have seen and learnt in the last couple of days.
I have met people from the biggest brands and media companies, I have spent time with businessmen and web gurus but the thing that sparked off the trip in the first place was one of the biggest highlights. My first port of call: Adidas’ launch of the new Bafana home jersey.
I love jerseys. Every year there are new jerseys released; home, away and third kits. A lot of clubs have worked it so that they release a new jersey every year. One year a home, and the next an away. For me it’s as much fun as watching the transfer market. As the release date nears, photos are sneaked out giving you a sniff at what the shirt will look like. Posters and ad campaigns start filtering out into the new media segment.
And then comes launch day! Those who aren’t invited to the launch or who live in another country, wait expectantly for a site to post pictures of the latest addition to the apparel market.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the launch of the Bafana jersey in Johannesburg, South Africa last week.
The venue was an old theatre, tucked away in a square filled with hawkers (people selling things on the street; cheap knock-offs etc).
There was such an atmosphere!
Upon arrival at the entrance, I was greeted by a massive Adidas branded truck. I figured it was just advertising or something. It wasn’t, but I’ll get back to the truck later.
A swarming foyer of media personnel and soccer celebrities was the next stop. My name was finally found and I received my bright yellow pass.
After grabbing a free bottled water, (who grabs free water! Take the Coke man!) I headed for my seat in the auditorium.
It was a beautiful old theatre, complete with a balcony. My seat was in the middle section and while I sat, waiting, my eyes scanned the room. Slowly people continued to drip in. Face after face was met with a familiar tick in my mental excel spread sheet. Presenters, ex-players, organization presidents, writers and editors.
Final, last-minute fine tuning was happening, camera men were checking their sound levels, props were being placed on the stage, photographers clicked away.
Obviously something was going on here…
(A few minutes late…) The start arrived. We were welcomed and then told about what would happen throughout the presentation. We had two ladies sing us a song. They were very good but no one seemed to listen when they (eventually resorted to) begging us to stand and dance.
I was a few rows behind Aaron Mokoena. He was pulled out of his seat and forced to shake a hip or two. (Thank goodness for not being famous!)
Dance and drama followed before, in a clever plot, the shirt was revealed as part of the show.
The plot may have been too clever for us, or we may have fallen asleep, (I’m not sure…) but when it arrived we didn’t even seem to notice.
Once the penny had dropped, the newly designed yellow and green shirt was met with applause from all.
Being a little further away from the action, my first response was, ‘ah, chaps I think you forgot the old one on him…’
After the model was joined by two more shirt wearing young men and walked to the end of the stage, I realized it was in fact very different. And very nice!
The conclusion of the presentation was an interview with members of Adidas as well as the SAFA president and team skipper Mokoena.
In the middle of the play we were shown a video about the new campaign Adidas have launched to ‘unite the nation behind Bafana’ called ‘Unite Mzansi Unite’.
The basic idea is a huge replica shirt that will travel the country in the big truck (remember the truck?). The truck will travel from host city to host city and ‘everywhere’ in between. South Africans of all shapes, sizes and colours are encouraged to sign the shirt.
Brilliant, I thought!
We were released and had to choose between lining up to the sign the giant shirt, grabbing food or claiming our free replica shirt. I went with the shirt. Although the food was tempting…
The location was a brilliant thought. The campaign: a stroke of genius. The food was good. The people were… there.
Walking around afterwards, surrounded by cameras and interviewers, photographers and celebrities, my thought was this: ‘this is football’.
And it is. Soccer is loved not because it is sport (which it is…). Soccer is not watched because of the emotions it stirs within you. Shirts are not bought because we need them.
Football is what it is because it has status. It’s lights and camera’s and people and hype.
It’s fashion and money and cars. It is a dream.
The fans standing on the other side of the metal railing were craning necks to just catch a glimpse of someone. Or even something. They didn’t care what or who. They just wanted to see fame.
And for South Africa, a country with so much poverty and strife, the chance to just see, just experience something, anything, can change someone’s life.
I was lucky enough to be on the inside of the railing. To be amongst the famous and the powerful. I was shaking hands with ex-players and originations presidents.
It changed my life…
High 5’s all round to Adidas. They put on a great show. They created a beautiful jersey. They made magic. And that’s what football is all about.
ADIDAS’ NEW BAFANA BAFANA HOME KIT AND ‘UMU’ CAMPAIGN PICTURES
