The groundswell of support Bafana Bafana has received after beating World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in the African Cup of Nations has resulted in the white official supporters' replica jersey being sold out.
The two goals scored by Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena against Morocco to earn Bafana a berth in the Afcon quarterfinals reverberated throughout the country and made cash registers ring with joy.
Le Coq Sportif marketing manager Courtney Williams, while unable to supply sales numbers, confirmed the news to TimesLIVE.
“The support has been amazing and it just accentuates the good sporting news we as South Africans have had in the last year. Banyana made it to the round of 16 in the Women's World Cup, the Boks beat France, England and New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup knockout rounds by one point and then Dricus du Plessis won his UFC title fight on a split decision also by one point,” Williams said.
A winning team is its own best salesperson, he said.
“Our team performed incredibly well so far and the jersey sales fed on that feeling of good hope. The jerseys were sold out almost immediately online.”
Williams is proud of the national team.
“This shows our national resilience, but also the Bafana Bafana resilience. These players recently ended a 15-match unbeaten streak when they lost to Rwanda. Yet nobody made positive noise about their results.
“We are from a nation of one-pointers and Bafana now have a point to prove. We are all very excited about this team and their prospects in the CAF Cup.”
The last and only time South Africa won this tournament was way back in 1996.
“There is a definite spirit of the 1996 team that you can see and feel in our current crop. Their dedication and performance speaks to us as South Africans”
Before the tournament started few gave Bafana a sporting chance.
“The sales of the jersey shows you that has changed. We want to support that by ensuring supporters can still get their hands on the jersey,” Williams said.
“We are busy with a top-up of the jerseys and we will create a prepaid portal on our web so supporters can pre-order their jerseys while the manufacturing is still ongoing.”
Williams believes in the unifying power of sport in South Africa.
“History will show you we have never been as united as when our sportsmen and women are successful. As a nation we take a lot of energy from that success. As our beloved former president Nelson Mandela said: 'Sport has the power to change the world, it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.' At Le Coq Sportif we proudly support those words of Madiba,” Williams said.
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