adidas, the official match ball supplier to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, have announced the 32 ball carriers selected for the continental footballing extravaganza which commences on Saturday, January 19.
Last year, in November of 2012, adidas invited youngsters between the ages of 12 and 16 to take part in a competition, with an opportunity of being selected as one of the 32 ball carriers for the Afcon. Over 5 000 football fans entered the competition.
The concept of using the youngsters is an adaption of the practice used during the Equatorial Guinea and Gabon Afcon, where the referee would pick up the official match ball from a display, as he led the teams onto the field.
"In November 2012, we invited youngsters between the ages of 12 and 16 to take part in an adidas competition which we ran on Mxit – a popular mobile platform for teenagers in South Africa. The competition asked them to motivate why they should be considered as one of the 32 ball carriers," said Zobuzwe Ngobese, adidas South Africa's public relations manager.
32 youngsters from across the country have been selected for the 32 respective games of this year's Afcon as ball carriers of the official match balls.
The list of youngsters is as follows:
Nelson Tshuma, Maxine Chetty, Jood Kross, Nkosipendule Ntozi, Tervin Nyunda, Njabulo Simelane, Nicole Amado, Thluani Sehloho, Yusuf Dhai, Sthembile Chili, Alec Doyle, Aqeelah Abed, Mubarak Adebowale, Abenathi Matomane, Marcus Mahoa, Terence Africa, Bradley Pearson, Frank Mvana, Sinoxolo Skosana, Alexio Phytides, Prudence Ngomane, Thato Mokate, Karabo Senne, Nthabiseng Mabuza, Kayla Alexander, Jayden Matroos, Lebogang Sibuyi, Basetsana Mosemeng, Keagan Fynn, Lesedi Modiba, Khethiwe Mjekula and Ethan Camp.
