A Kaizer Chiefs fan’s dream came true on October 17, 2023, when he won a brand-new Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 worth R450 000.
The fan, Sifiso Solomon Makhubela, won the ‘Win A Toyota Corolla Cross’ competition run by Kaizer Chiefs Mobile, the official mobile subsidiary of Kaizer Chiefs FC, in partnership with Toyota South Africa.
An elated Makhubela tells how a close friend pushed him to switch to KC Mobile, powered by Chiefs’ sponsors, Vodacom.
During a late August roadshow in Vosloorus, just 30 kilometres south-east of Johannesburg, Makhubela bought a KC Mobile SIM Card.
“I bought a KC mobile sim card in Vosloorus just before the [Mamelodi] Sundowns game [MTN8 first leg]. I was recharging it… Two weeks back, on a Tuesday, I got a phone call that I was the lucky winner,” Makhubela said during the handover ceremony at Naturena.
Newly signed Chiefs forward Ranga Chivaviro admits, “When you’re doing the activations, you don’t see that far”.
“Until the day someone wins something massive. The club and sponsors are rewarding the supporters. It’s heart-warming that someone has won a brand new car,” the former Marumo Gallants striker said.
HOW MAKHUBELA EMERGED AS THE LUCKY WINNER
KC Mobile portfolio manager Bafana Sibiya explained how Makhubela emerged as the lucky winner.
“He started using the SIM card and recharging it. When we launched the campaign, he continued. We managed to do the draw according to the Ts and Cs. And we pulled out his name,” Sibiya said.
The 41-year-old says he has never owned a car, nor does he have a license.
“This is my first car. I’ve never owned a car before. It’ll challenge me to get my driver’s license quickly. I’m over the moon.”
He has been a Khosi fan since the heydays of Jabu Pule. Makhubela says he was sure it was a prank when the phone call came. “I had to call the Village to get confirmation.”
The 41-year-old, who works for an engineering company in Alrode [near Alberton] as a machine operator, says he has missed so many games because he didn’t have transport.
“We used Quantums to go to the stadium, but now that has changed because we will buy tickets, pour fuel and just drive to the stadium,” the father of three explained.
REWARD KAIZER CHIEFS FANS
The Chiefs’ marketing manager, Jessica Motaung, said the club was delighted to have awarded such a prize to one of its loyal fans. She added that the club and its partners always seek ways to reward their fans.
“What excites me about this campaign is that it is a collaboration of our partnerships. It’s not just one sponsor saying I want to do something. But it’s really saying how does the Kaizer Chiefs family of sponsors work together,” Motaung said.
The competition was run in partnership with Chiefs’ sponsors, Toyota, Vodacom and Kappa.
Chiefs are one of the most popular football clubs in South Africa and have a large and passionate fan base. The news of the fan winning a car has been met with excitement and joy by the Chiefs’ fan community.
Many fans have taken to social media to congratulate the winner and express their hopes of winning similar prizes. The big prize is an excellent example of how the Chiefs are working to engage with their fans and reward them for their loyalty. It is also a positive sign for the club’s sponsors, who can reach a large and engaged audience through the Chiefs’ platform.
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