FNB Namibia on Tuesday announced that Zakumi, the official mascot of the FIFA World Cup TM is coming to Namibia and will be conducting a nationwide tour, courtesy of FNB Namibia and Visa.
At Tuesday’s launch, Dixon Norval of FNB said that they had decided to make sure that Namibia also shares in the excitement of the FIFA World Cup and had arranged the Zakumi visit for the benefit of all Namibians.
“Today FNB and Namibia are celebrating one more 2010 dream come true regarding the upcoming Soccer World Cup in South Africa and the part that FNB has played in making this more than a South African extravaganza. As you all know, VISA is an official sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and through our VISA affiliation we, as FNB Namibia, have also become one of the Namibian supporters of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Africa. With the Namibian tour of Zakumi we once again pledge our support to all the FNB Namibia clients and staff and in particular, all Namibians in general to prove our commitment to them and to bring the world cup alive – also in Namibia,” he said.
Zakumi will be visiting Namibia from April 10 to 16 and will also travel to northern Namibia and the coast. FNB clients will have the opportunity to join in the festivities and to have their photo taken with the mascot, courtesy of FNB Namibia and Visa.
At the same occasion a sports journalist with the Namibian Economist David Adetona won a ticket to the World Cup where he will attend one match, on an all expenses paid trip.
Zakumi, a leopard, has been designed and produced exclusively in the host country. The name is a composition of “ZA”, standing for South Africa, and “kumi” translating into “10” in various languages across Africa. Inspired by his football idols, Zakumi has dyed his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch.
The original creator of the design is Andries Odendaal from Cape Town, and the mascot costume itself was produced by Cora Simpson of Cora’s Costumes cc in Boksburg.
“Zakumi is a proud South African and, as such, an ideal ambassador for the first African World Cup. He was born in 1994, the same year as the county’s democracy. He is young, energetic, smart and ambitious, and a real inspiration for young and old, not only in our country,” explained Danny Jordaan
The tradition of the Official FIFA Word Cup Mascot has been in place for more than 40 years. World Cup Willie was the first-ever FIFA World Cup Mascot, invented for the 1966 tournament in England. Official Mascots have come to play a more and more important role in the FIFA World Cup as with their infectiously positive attitude, they have over the years added to the atmosphere of each competition in their own unique way.
The World Cup mascots through the years were as follows:
1966 England Willie (lion)
1970 Mexico Juanito (boy)
1974 West Germany Tip and Tap (two boys)
1978 Argentina Gauchito (Footballer)
1982 Spain Naranjito (orange)
1986 Mexico Pique (hot pepper)
1990 Italy Ciao (stick figure player)
1994 United States Striker (dog)
1998 France Footix (cockerel)
2002 Korea/Japan Spheriks (energy)
2006 Germany GOLEO IV & Pille (lion & ball)
2010 South Africa Zakumi (Leopard)