EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

2009 MTN8 – bigger, louder and definitely better!


PSL PRESS RELEASE
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The cry for Wafa Wafa will once again be booming across the country when the second edition of MTN8 competition kicks off on 04 August. This season’s edition of MTN8 takes place after a record-breaking television viewership of the nail-biting final between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as the spectacular success of the Confederations Cup.
The second edition of MTN8 Wafa Wafa tournament officially launched on 13 July, 2009 at MTN head office in Fairlands, Roodeport promises to be louder, bigger and more exciting for both the clubs and millions of SA soccer fans.
The eight teams that have finished in the top eight of the Absa Premiership will slug it out in a do-or-die combat for the mouthwatering grand prize of R8 million. This year, Ajax Cape Town and Golden Arrows, both MTN sponsored teams, comprise the eight teams that will vie for the lucrative prize money. Other participating teams are AmaZulu, Bidvest Wits, Free State Stars, Kaizer Chiefs (2008 winners), Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United.
Serame Taukobong, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN SA says: “To reward the greatest supporters of football in the country, for the duration of the tournament, MTN comes with an improved second edition of a fan-based competition - the ‘Last Fan standing’ where the ultimate fan will enjoy a record-breaking 2010 FIFA World Cup experience.”

The Last Fan Standing competition will target the dyed-in-wool fans that tirelessly support their teams during the tournament. The ultimate prize for the competition includes:

• 38 match tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup games with all expenses paid;
  This includes 31 Days with 38 live games from all eight groups with at least 30 national teams;
  The winner will travel to all nine cities over 17,000 km’s of travelling, experience all 10 FIFA stadiums and witness Over 3,420 minutes of live World Cup football;
  The 38 games comprise the opening game, 28 pool games (including opening game), four Round of 16, two quarter Finals, two semi finals, 3rd/4th place play-off and off course, the final;
  An application has been sent to enter the competition to the Guinness World Record for most matches attended by one individual at a FIFA World Cup.

Taukobong adds: “The Last Fan Standing prize resonates with the format of the competition which is characterised by a winner-takes-all approach – an exciting and nerve-wrecking approach that has distinguished the tournament from any other. Also, our employees will not be left out in the cold, MTN8 has introduced an employee competition where MTNers stand a chance to win soccer merchandise, and special access tickets to the matches.”
PSL Chief Operations Officer, Professor Ronnie Schloss, was equally excited at the launch.
“MTN’s commitment is certainly in line with our objectives of getting more fans interested in local football as well as attending matches and we really pleased at the initiative launched today,” Schloss commented.
“Furthermore, last season’s inaugural tournament was a tremendous success and we looking to build on that success during the 2009 edition of the MTN8.”
To complement the Last Fan Standing competition, fans attending games also stand a chance to win amazing prizes like a Sony Ericsson phone or MTN product hampers.
The draw that determines venues for the tournament will be announced at the launch as well as new additions to this year’s Wafa Wafa which:

The MTN 2010 Gig Rig - This unique rig, a technologically advanced transportation, which landed on South African shores a week before the commencement of the FIFA Confederations Cup will assist in igniting the passion for football in all South Africans. The rig will be used as a vehicle to take the MTN8 football excitement to fans both inside and outside the stadium at the quarter-finals, semi-finals, the final, ticket tape parade as well as for CSI initiatives.
Virtual Launch - this launch is aimed at ensuring that fans, customers, as well as MTN employees are part of the MTN8 event virtually via the web: www.mtnfootball.com.

www.mtnfootball.com – a micro-site within the MTN Football website, dedicated to the nine-match tournament, will provide full coverage of the 2009 MTN8. Each match will be covered through a match centre, where users will have access to news, match previews, match reports, man of the match profiles, LIVE Play by Plays, profiles and photo galleries. There will also be a dedicated media channel where downloaded images and content can be accessed by various media.

The quarter finals are as follows: AmaZulu vs SuperSport United; Orlando Pirates vs Ajax Cape Town; Kaizer Chiefs vs BidVest Wits and Free State Stars vs Golden Arrow.
The kick-off times and venues will be announced later this week.
Taukobong concludes: “As a customer-centric organisation, MTN strives to provide innovative ways, for its customers and SA fans in general, to access football using advanced technology.”