8 July 2010
Works of art showing breathtaking, career-making and -breaking moments in the World Cup are being auctioned off, with the funds raised going to the Nelson Mandela 46664 Foundation.
The fund-raising effort began with Adidas, an official sponsor of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ unveiling a collection of paintings on Wednesday, 30 June at the Adidas public relations headquarters at the Sandton Convention Centre, with South African boxing great Baby Jake Matlala, Isidingo actress Hlubi Mboya and Metro FM presenter Kenny Maistry in attendance.
The aim of the auction is to give football fans an opportunity to own a piece of 2010 World Cup history while supporting the 46664 charity.
Subjects
Pieces on auction include an inspirational painting of Diego Forlan, who grabbed two goals for Uruguay as the South Americans sent Bafana Bafana to defeat on day six of the tournament.
Some of the other subjects of paintings are Bafana Bafana midfielder Steven Pienaar; England captain Steven Gerrard; Spanish top scorer David Villa; Dutch winger Arjen Robben; and Germany’s Lukas Podolski.
The painting “The First Whistle” immortalises the moment Bafana Bafana began the tournament as millions united across the country to watch the first Fifa World Cup on African soil.
“As the world’s leading football brand and official sponsor of the tournament, it was very important for us to leave a legacy here. It’s why we have chosen 46664 as our partner,” said Thomas van Schaik, the head of global public relations at Adidas, said at the launch of the fund-raising efforts.
Creating awareness
“This partnership allows us to utilize the platform of the Fifa World Cup to raise funds for, and (create) awareness of the great work the Nelson Mandela Foundation is doing all over South Africa.”
Another painting features Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain. The Real Madrid striker scored the first hat-trick of the tournament with two headers and a tap-in to help his team to a 4-1 victory over South Korea.
All the artworks on auction are by artists Paul Junior Kasemwana and Espoir Kennedy, who are permanently based at Jo’bulani Central.
Other items on auction include Steven Pienaar’s signed group stage shirt; 32 individual player portraits; The Quest, a painting of 32 players from the 32 participating countries; and the actual Adidas Jo’bulani match ball that will be used in the final match on Sunday, 11 July.
The art can be bought on E-Bay until 18 July.
Source: City of Johannesburg
