To herald the start of a World Cup year and to celebrate PUMA’s long-standing partnership with African football (the Company sponsors 12 African teams, four of which have qualified for World Cup), PUMA has partnered with Kehinde Wiley, one of the world’s most sought-after artists, and commissioned him to create four original works of art inspired by three of football’s most decorated players.  Wiley is best known for using contemporary African American men in poses taken from the annals of art history and for his distinctive use of elaborate, graphic and colorful wallpaper-like backgrounds.   Continue Reading

The Emerald Resort & Casino, in Vanderbijlpark, is soccer-mad – and thousands of children in its surrounding communities will be learning the Beautiful Game these December holidays.

The Holiday Coaching Programme, facilitated by the Aaron Mokoena Foundation and sponsored by the Emerald Resort & Casino, will be delivered by 6 coaches who will target 180 children in two coaching sessions per day. More than 1 800 children will be engaged during this holiday’s programme. Continue Reading

The French Football Federation has confirmed that France will make Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in Knysna its base camp for the 2010 Football World Cup.

France, which was drawn in Group A to play South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay, will arrive at Pezula in early June.

Les Bleus, who won the competition on home soil in 1998, appear to be the favourites in their group. They will play Uruguay in Cape Town on 11 June, Mexico in Polokwane on 17 June and South Africa in Bloemfontein on 22 June.

Keith Stewart, Pezula Chairman, said that he is delighted that after months of negotiations and visits from the Federation and FIFA, and following the World Cup draw in Cape Town, Pezula is set to become the home of the French team next year.

Read rest of the report on our sister blog Travelwires.com

The Makoya Fan Helmet, as South African as its thunderous footballing partner, the Vuvuzela, is the famous South African football helmet that’s worn by die-hard, enthusiastic fans, and as the time comes for South Africans to host the world’s biggest sporting event, the Fifa World Cup, the world is going to see football in all its African glory: loud, colourful and exciting.

Key to the vibrant image of African football is the Makoya Fan Helmet, also known as the Makaraba. The typical Makaraba’s, that display support to local teams and their sponsors, originated in the in the early 80s and are worn with intense pride by South African soccer fans. Since each one is traditionally hand-sculpted and painted, they are difficult to produce easily and quickly for large orders. Continue Reading

Nike South Africa today unveiled the Kaizer Chiefs 40^th Anniversary Special Edition team football kit that draws inspiration from the glorious past of the black and gold club. The Special Edition kit will be worn by the team at their next home game on Saturday, December 12^th against Bloemfontein Celtic, at Loftus Stadium, Pretoria.

Kaizer Chiefs will continue to wear the Special Edition kit during all home games in the 2009/2010 season.

The jersey recalls that worn by the Amakhosi 40 years ago, in that it is predominantly black and featuring the iconic Kaizer Chiefs gold on the rib collar, sleeves and cuffs. Continue Reading

Join Nike and the Kaizer Chiefs team for the launch of the club’s 40th Anniversary Special Edition team kit at a celebratory event at Carlton Centre on Thursday, 10th December from 13:00.

Players will be in attendance to meet and greet their loyal fans.

The special edition kit will be worn for the first time on-field in the game against Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday, 12th December 2009. Continue Reading

With everyone gearing up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Sony Ericsson is offering fans exclusive and exciting ways to support their team online and take them to victory in the first World Cup with social networking and media sharing at it’s heart

As excitement builds in anticipation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, Sony Ericsson, the Official Mobile Handset of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, introduces a new way for football fans in South Africa to get behind their team online through a unique social networking initiative. Continue Reading

Philips and the ‘Dutch Legends’ football team have donated one of the worlds first dedicated solar powered LED floodlighting system (intense beams of light) to the Refilwe community project near Johannesburg, allowing the local community to play and watch football long after dark for the first time ever.

This initiative comes as Philips announced the launch of a new generation of solar LED solution, which has the ability to transform the lives of communities throughout the developing world. The Dutch Legends team is coached by Ruud Gullit and includes former Dutch Internationals such as Aron Winter, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Ronald de Boer and Arthur Numan.   Continue Reading

On the day before World Aids day some of the world’s best footballers joined Bono at announcement of partnership between NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) and (RED).

The unique partnership delivers a two-pronged approach to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, with programmes that offer both education and medication on the ground, and will harness the power of sport to engage youth around the world in the fight against AIDS in Africa.

Footballers involved include: Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast), Joe Cole (Chelsea & England), Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal & Russia), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan & Italy), Denilson (Arsenal & Brazil), Lucas Neill (Everton & Australia), Clint Dempsey (Fulham & USA) and Seol Ki-Hyeon (Fulham & South Korea). Continue Reading

As part of the 2010 Artificial Pitch Legacy Programme, First National Bank (FNB) in partnership with the George Municipality has embarked upon a Sod Turning ceremony conducted today in light of the official opening of the Lawaaikamp artificial pitch due to take place in March 2010.

“George Municipality is extremely grateful to partner with FNB in this much needed Sport Development Project. We are convinced that all George Communities and particular the Youth will benefit from this Soccer 2010 Legacy Project,” says Mr Philip de Swardt, Mayor of George Municipality. Continue Reading