BrandSouthAfrica.com

Kimberley, Friday, 18th September 2009 – Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s national football team demonstrated support for Football Friday today, in the capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley at a visit to Tetlhanyo High School. The school was attended by Bafana Bafana striker, Richard Henyekane.

With less than 40 Fridays before the FIFA 2010 World Cup™, the squad encouraged all South Africans to “play for Team South Africa” by participating in the Football Friday initiative. Since its 4th September launch, we are seeing South Africans wearing football kit every Friday, in anticipation of the event and in support of African teams who will compete in the tournament.

Football Friday calls for South Africans to wear a football shirt every Friday up until, and even throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on the ultimate Football Friday, 11th June 2010.

Bafana Bafana visited the Kimberley school in “Football Friday” style, ahead of their international friendly match against Madagascar on Saturday 19th September 2009. Players engaged with the school children at their assembly, as well as through class visits where autographs were signed and football mementos handed out. The school visit paid tribute to a community within which player talent was nurtured.

“Walk it, talk it, wear it, share it!” says Paul Bannister, acting CEO of Brand South Africa, one of the organisations behind the initiative. “It's all about soccer – and being part of the same team: Team South Africa.”

Together with the International Marketing Council of South Africa, the initiative is being jointly driven by the country’s major 2010 partners, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup SA Organising Committee, Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), South African Tourism and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

“Wear one, tell your friends to wear one, tell your work colleagues to wear one, tell your kids to wear one. Kids, tell your parents to wear one,” said Bannister. “We call on “Team South Africa” to get interested, excited and talking about football.”

The initiative also aims to mobilise South Africans to be the best hosts they can be, as we all pull together to deliver the best World Cup, both on and off the field.

If the mood takes you, and you feel like you would like to go a step further, drive the nation building vibe by flying your South African flag, learning all the words of the national anthem, trying the diski dance and making some noise – Vuvuzela-style - in support of our African home teams.
Bannister said that as events, audiences and media coverage goes, “it doesn't come bigger than the football World Cup. Pulling it off is going to take a Team South Africa effort.” Brand South Africa aims to leverage the event to tell the world that we are a country, and continent that is alive with warmth, energy, resources, resourcefulness, resilience, ambition and ubuntu.

“We are truly alive with possibility,” concluded Bannister.

For further information on Football Friday, please contact:
Margaret Dingalo
Director: Stakeholder Relations

International Marketing Council of South Africa
Tel: +27 11 483 0122