“We can’t wait, let’s go 2010!” is the message from MTN, Africa’s first and only global sponsor of a FIFA World Cup competition. The mobile service provider with a footprint throughout Africa and the Middle East launched the campaign at its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa this week.
The event, marked by poetry, music and the presence of football fans from other African countries such as Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria, officially launched the campaign intended for rollout in all of MTN’s 21 markets. The campaign is intended to build anticipation and excitement for the World Cup event, and to unite supporters and stakeholders in making the event a resounding success for the African continent.
Dignitaries present at the auspicious event included 2010 FIFA World Organising Committee Chairman, Dr. Irvin Khoza, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, MTN Group President and CEO, Mr. Phuthuma Nhleko and some African ambassadors, among others.
Says Mr. Nhleko about the 2010 World Cup and MTN’s involvement as global sponsor: “It’s an experience we can no longer wait for; one that should strengthen our competitive position in emerging markets, leave a legacy of improved infrastructure for our economy and demonstrate to the world that the African continent – and South Africa in particular – is capable of hosting events of this size.
“The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ will be a huge boost for the South African economy, contributing in excess of R50 billion to our GDP, and will have benefits that will go beyond 2010 with an indirect impact that is likely to be more significant for our economy in years to come.”
MTN is also fully committed to bring the World Cup experience to the people of South Africa and Africa. The company has secured exclusive mobile content rights to the event, and plans to make available a wide range of World Cup related content to its subscribers through the MTN Loaded portal.
Furthermore, MTN also announced that its customers on MTN PayAsYouGo and Contract packages will have the unique opportunity to watch the 64 World Cup games live at match venues across South Africa. This initiative forms part of the “MTN 1-4-1” Loyalty Programme.
Customers can register for the programme and will automatically get entered into the monthly MTN FIFA World Cup Ticket Draw. For every R1 you spend on MTN, you get one point loaded onto your phone almost immediately. Other rewards include airtime, SMS and data bundles for participating customers.
