DRAFTFCBlog: The Next 30 Days

Posted by John Dixon, Group Chief Executive, Draftfcb South Africa

I can’t believe it, but it’s here!

All the tabloid trash-talk about crime, about infrastructure and about the stadiums has proved to be just that. Trash. All the cynics who said we couldn’t do it have been proved wrong and today South Africa starts a month of unparalled significance. FIFA has more affiliate countries than the United Nations and as such is the ultimate Rainbow Federation. It therefore seems deeply appropriate that the Rainbow Nation play host to the Rainbow Federation.

As a football nut, it pains me to admit it, but what happens off the field is much more important than what happens on it! The next 30 days are a great opportunity to replenish your soul. All around the country, ordinary South Africans are reminding us that we are all children of the Rainbow Nation. Regardless of race, tribe, creed or sex we are Madiba’s people at our core and I think the outpourings of public joy over the last few days are a celebration of this fact specifically. I love living in a country where the separateness of ethnic origin and the sameness of national pride are celebrated with equal relish. As a company, this is something we carry in our DNA. We owe our very existence in this market to the fact that we are passionate about connecting with South Africans from all walks of life.

Over the next few weeks, make sure that you take the opportunity to swallow huge gulps of our unique home brew. If you are not going the stadiums, promise yourself that you will watch at least one game in a Fan Park. Take your kids. Take lots of photos. Write things down, for these are heady days indeed! When you watch Bafana Bafana over the next few games, savour both the diversity of our team as well as the power of youth. Ithumeleng Khune is 23 years old, just think about the responsibility he carries on our behalf!

When Bafana Bafana get knocked out (and we eventually will!) adopt another African side. Make an effort to talk to foreigners. Be sure to thank them for not believing the crap that was spoken about our country. These visitors the brave ones, the ones that are not deterred by myth and popular convention. They are the truly passionate ones. These visitors are our kind of people, lets treat them like honorary citizens.

Congratulations on being South African!...DRAFTFCBlog