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15 July 2008

Local financial services giant, First National Bank, says it will use the power and popularity of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup to highlight key socio-economic issues in South Africa.

The bank today launched the Save to Score Challenge aimed at developing and encouraging a culture of savings among South Africans.

The campaign was unveiled on Tuesday, 15 July 2008 in Johannesburg by the Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa; FNB CEO, Michael Jordan and the South African FIFA 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman, Irvin Khoza. The campaign is also part of the Savings Month, which is held every July in the country.

The campaign calls on all South Africans to take part in the bank's record breaking effort by opening an FNB Flexi-fixed Deposit account with a R100.

When the savings reach R500 in invested funds, the account holder will receive an FNB FIFA 2010 World Cup limited edition Adidas soccer ball.

Shilowa used the occasion to reiterate that Gauteng would be ready come 2010.

"As a province we will be ready for 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup. All our stadia will be ready and complete - even those that will be used for practice will be ready," said Shilowa.

Shilowa said his government was busy ensuring that all South Africans would be out in fan parks, stadia and taverns enjoying the festivities of football in 2010.

"We just need to let our people know that it will not be possible for every South Africans to get a ticket to go to the stadium. Fan parks and other areas will be set up, to ensure that we all enjoy regardless where we are," he said.

He said the provincial government was working towards making South Africa shine during the 2010 soccer showpiece.

FNB's Jordan said based on the increased uptake of investment products in the retail space over the last couple of months, FNB was confident that its Save to Score campaign would contribute to increasing the level of savings among South Africans.

"One of the socio-economic challenges we face as a country is our low level of savings which we recognise as a national priority," said Jordan.

LOC Chairman Irvin Khoza further shot down any suggestion that FIFA has plan B for 2010.

"The World Cup will be in South Africa (in 2010) and there is no plan B," said Khoza to loud applause from the gathered crowd.

He said his organisation's partnership with the banking group showed that the World Cup was not "about the LOC, the government or politicians but for all 45 million South Africans."

Premier Shilowa, Jordan and Khoza used two cranes to drop the last three of the 150 000 balls into the 30 tons of 11 metre high giant steel spheres erected on either sides of FNB's Bank City Simmonds Street headquarters.

Jordan said FNB was attempting to set a Guinness World Record by amassing 150 000 soccer balls in place over two days.

Issued by: Gauteng Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
15 July 2008