South Africa has also been known as a rainbow nation because of the fact the diversity in the country and now, the country’s cricket board, along with sports footwear manufacturers New Balance, has come up with a campaign designed to celebrate the diversity of the Proteas squad. Cricket South Africa (CSA) and New Balance have launched #WornAsOne jersey towards championing the strength that the African side draws from its diverse composition.
The players will be wearing the new Proteas jersey during their ODI assignments as it one of the most colorful ones in the South African market and it has been created to be worn to exhibit a common bond and purpose between every South African backing the national squad, CSA said in a press release. South African captain Faf du Plessis applauded the effort and called it a “massive strength and differentiator”.
As quoted in InsideSport, Du Plessis said, “The individuals which make up our team are all from very different backgrounds, cultures, and upbringings. This is unique in international cricket. We consider this a massive strength and differentiator. Passion for and commitment to the Proteas is our bond, a bond that has been created through the legacies left by previous generations of Proteas players.”
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He further added, “The Proteas story is full of individuals who contributed to building this bond through the legacies and values they left behind. #WornAsOne is a celebration of these legacies and a reminder of the long journey the team has traveled since independence.”
The new kit range is a reflection of the Proteas strength in diversity, being the most colourful ever, it is designed to be #WornAsOne
The 7 colours symbolise shared values: Passion, Resilience, Opportunity, Trust, Excellence, Authenticity and Style.@OfficialCSA #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/UlV0nRR0R3
— New Balance SA (@NewBalance_SA) October 22, 2018
Faf reckons that this will be a challenge to both the South African team and the supporters to honor this legacy and remember that they are playing for a common purpose despite their differences.
Former South African player Clive Eksteen, currently the CSA Marketing Head, said, “South Africa, The Proteas, and cricket bring us together, creating unity through the shared passion. The current team is consistently ranked as one of the top sides in world cricket – this is a result of this team unity, a process which started back in 1992 and continues to this day.” Craig Bowen, Country Manager of New Balance South Africa explained, “Passion, Resilience, Opportunity, Trust, Excellence, Authenticity, and Style. Our hope is that every time a Protea or fan pulls on this shirt, they will remember these values and give their all for the team.”
