Zakumi's non-stop journey nears its end

When the final whistle sounds at the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Final in Johannesburg on Sunday, it will also signal the beginning of a well-earned vacation for one of the hardest-working members of the FIFA team.

Zakumi, the Official Mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, will reach to the end of an international tour that began with a prime-time television appearance on South Africa’s SABC way back in September 2008. Since then, the football-crazy leopard with the funky green hair has been on a journey that would challenge the stamina of a rock star.


An integral part of the huge 86-country FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, Zakumi also touched down in 54 countries and six continents to appear at FIFA Commercial Affiliates, South African Tourism and 2010 Local Organising Committee events – and that was before the FIFA World Cup even began!

During the FIFA World Cup itself, Zakumi was introduced to the crowds at every one of the 64 games played and he also met thousands more fans by visiting each of South Africa’s ten FIFA Fan Fest venues. By the time the curtain comes down on the first FIFA World Cup on African soil, the globetrotting mascot will have made 244 international visits and an incredible 342 appearances in his homeland.

International expeditions, birthday celebrations
Zakumi, who was originally designed by Andries Odendaal from Cape Town, is named after the ‘ZA’ that stands for South Africa and ‘kumi’, which translates as ‘10’ in various languages across Africa and is a number synonymous with creative flair and footballing genius down the years. In the words of FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, Zakumi "represented the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying in essence the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

Whether popping in to watch the multi-talented Spain side put through their paces prior to a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Belgium in Brussels, or opening Official FIFA stores in China, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, and Panama, Zakumi has been an ever-present cheerleader for the world’s biggest sporting event and has been taken to the hearts of the nation he so ably represented in South Africa.

Among the most important and enjoyable aspects of Zakumi’s endeavours were the social, community and charity initiatives he helped bring attention to. And there was no better example than on 16 June when, on Youth Day - a momentous date in South African history which pays tribute to the student anti-apartheid protests of 1976 - he celebrated his 16th birthday with a group of thrilled South African boys and girls at Leresche Primary School in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The youngsters, who were participating in a one-week holiday programme organised by Grassroot Soccer to introduce school-based life skills, joined in the fun with birthday cake and candles for Zakumi. Naturally, the children also serenaded the super-cool Leopard with an enthusiastic rendition of ‘Happy Birthday!’ It wasn’t the first time Zakumi had his praises sung during South Africa 2010, and it is sure not to be the last.

Source: fifa.com