To commemorate DEFY’s historic campaign partnership with FC Barcelona, South Africa’s number one appliance brand plans to change the lives of three local learners through their Future Legends initiative. In order to invest in South African talent and create an unforgettable experience for three lucky learners, the search is on for South Africa’s next football legend in Durban, East London and Johannesburg.
This initiative is spearheaded by footballing legend and Kaizer Chiefs alum, Jimmy Tau. Over three months, Jimmy Tau will be hosting coaching clinics at nine provincial schools to assess the skills of aspiring soccer youths, as well as address the learners participating to motivate them to have their sporting dreams become a reality. The selected schools will initiate their own #FutureLegends day, where the school’s sports facilitator will host a playoff or heats in age groups from 10 to 13. The criteria for selection will be guided by Jimmy and the ‘Stars of Africa Football Academy’. One future legend will be selected from each province, and together they will be placed in a one-year incubation program through the ‘Stars of Africa Football Academy’ to further develop their skills.
This is where these future legends’ lives become truly exciting. Once the incubation program has kicked off, these three rising stars will be flown off to Spain to watch FC Barcelona play a Champions League match live. The three finalists will also have the opportunity to be flown to Johannesburg to spend the day with Jimmy Tau and experience behind the scenes of SuperSport. The journing of these aspiring soccer stars will be documented via video diary so that everyone may share in their excitement.
According to Cherisse Erwee, the Head of Marketing for DEFY South Africa, this initiative believes that it is this commitment to the local heritage that has made DEFY the well-loved brand it is today. “It is of huge importance that DEFY, as an organisation, consistently gives back to our communities. Our ethos as a brand is to create happy, healthy and sustainable lives through constant innovation, and empowering and uplifting our youth is just one of the ways that we aim to achieve this goal.”
Watch DEFY make dreams become a reality by following the hashtag #FutureLegends. The winners will be announced in August.
