by Dzudzie Faith Netshisaulu
Bafana Bafana new Technology sponsor, HONOR, on Tuesday evening hosted journalists, football fans, former Bafana Bafana players, and some football legends for a watch party for the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Benin and Bafana Bafana.
HONOR was announced as the exclusive technology devices sponsor of the South African men’s senior national team, Bafana Bafana last Friday, ahead of Bafana’s match against Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo.
HONOR has managed to break into local soccer scene, where brands collaborate with football clubs and footballers both on and off the pitch.
Their technology accommodates both social and technical aspect of the game, as they have wearables like smart watches that monitor footballs’ health during training sessions, while their smart devices like laptops and tablets are good for tech analysts.
HONOR also sponsor Betway Premiership side SuperSport United, their captain, Thulani Hlatshwayo and some of his teammates also joined the viewing.
The watch party also served as an official sponsorship announcement, where representatives from both SAFA and HONOR formed a panel discussion with sports broadcaster, Thato Moeng.
Moeng also engaged former Bafana players Fabian McCarthy and Brian “Spiderman” Baloyi. SuperSport captain, Thulani Hlatshwayo joined the conversation, sharing his perspective on brand collaborations on and off the field as a current player.