MTN celebrates passionate female fans at MTN8 matches during Women’s Month

Final eight female fans pocket R128 000 for themselves and charities at MTN8 matches.

They came donning their spectacular club regalia at all MTN8 matches over the past few weeks, and now the unique and exciting Female Fan of the Match competition ran during the Woman’s month of August has the final eight supporters.

As per the norm during the tournament and to remain true to the theme of Wafa Wafa, MTN specially honoured passionate female fans for being bold, showcasing their creativity and dressing in a unique style at the stadiums.

This past week two final winners were selected during the Soweto derby as well as the Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits match.

Now Mbali Dlamini, an Orlando Pirates supporter, and avid Platinum Stars follower Maki Choeneemang, were the chosen ladies dressed in remarkable fan regalia and won R16 000 in the MTN8 Female Fan of the Match competition, half of which they will share with a charity organisation of their choice that caters for women and children.

Mbali (30), mother of one, who hails from Secunda in the Mpumalanga province, was overjoyed upon hearing that she had won the prize after she was notified by friends sitting around her that her photo was displayed on the big screen.

Mbali matched her Buccaneers’ red top with a stylish black, red, white and grey skirt with long black football socks and a team jersey, for her outfit that won her the big prize. 

“Did I really win this big prize?” she asked in disbelief.

“I’m extremely thrilled to have been chosen as the best dressed lady among so many female fans who looked so beautiful at the FNB stadium. The prize money will assist me to better my education and finally get a health and safety qualification certificate.

  

Mbali, who currently works at the SASOL plant as a Health and Safety Officer, will enroll at a local College to complete her studies.

At the second MTN8 semifinal match on Sunday, Maki, a 51-year old Platinum Stars supporter from Mafidikwe Village in Phokeng, who is grateful for the help of her seamstress friend in the village, was clad in a smartly designed skirt, a football-styled work wear overall both designed in Platinum Stars colours and finished her look with a white police-like hat and the club’s home jersey.

After revelation of the big prize, the unemployed mother of three, Maki struggled to hold back her tears such was the meaning of the honour to her. “This is unbelievable and a huge prize for me, she commented hysterically.

“The reward from MTN comes at a time when I was stressing about funds to build a wall around my house while I will use some of the winnings for tertiary education for older child.

Maki recently started volunteering at a local school for the blind and is involved in the School’s Governing Body.

The stories of triumph and the spirit of endurance, that have come to the fore after MTN awarded the female fans their prizes and hearing about some of the charitable causes they wish to donate half of their prize to, demonstrates that women hold a special place in society as the backbone of communities.