We received an invite from Suzuki Auto South Africa to join them on their “On The Ball Media Day”, which kicked off on the 22nd of October. I’ve never attended a live ball game before, so the excitement was overflowing!
I opted for the “shuttle” option, but to my surprise, it was a full-on tour bus. How fancy. We made our way to the home of the Orlando Pirates, the Orlando Stadium, to watch them take on Polokwane City F.C.
You probably know by now that Suzuki Auto South Africa has announced a two-year partnership as the Official Vehicle and Premium Sleeve Partner of the Orlando Pirates Football Club. A partnership that brings together two trusted names that aim to achieve a mutual success both on and off the field. With Suzuki having the same values of excellence, resilience and community, they continue to support one of the giants of South African Football.
With that said, we arrived at Orlando Stadium in time to enjoy some delicious pre-game drinks and snacks in a private suite, and in pure Suzuki fashion, everyone received a gift bag containing an Official Orlando Pirates jersey and a pair of socks with bold Suzuki branding on them, as well as a flag.
The game kicked off at 19:30 and within the first 10 minutes our team scored the first goal. The stadium was roaring, and the drums were echoing through the grandstands; it felt almost empowering to hear it. At halftime, we also had the opportunity to meet some of the players, and of course, we took advantage of the opportunity to take some pictures with them.
Throughout the 90 minutes, we were on the edge of our seats as they attempted to score another goal, even though they got close a few times, the game ended at 1-0. As someone who has only watched European Football, I enjoyed the different style of playing, specifically the footwork of the Orlando Pirates team. The technique and gameplay were so much more entertaining to watch than my previous experience. They definitely got me interested in watching the game! I guess the motto of “Once a Pirate, always a Pirate” wasn’t just a phrase…
I am super excited for Suzuki’s partnership with the team, and to be a part of the excitement, even for a day, was one of the highlights of my year. So thank you, Suzuki, for once again showing us why you are so iconic.
The Pirates’ next game is against the Golden Arrows on the 5th of November. Fingers crossed that they keep up their winning streak from the past 4 games.
