• The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced HONOR as the official technology devices sponsor of Bafana Bafana.
• The sponsorship will see HONOR offer its AI, smart wearables, and data-driven insights to support the men’s national team.
• No specific timeframe or period has been outlined for the sponsorship.

At the weekend, the men’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, secured a 2-0 victory over our landlocked neighbours Lesotho. While the fixture was fairly routine as two goals were scored in the second half after sustained pressure, the match occurred while another announcement was made in recent days.

This as the South African Football Association (SAFA) announced HONOR as the official technology devices sponsor of the men’s national team.

“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the convergence of cutting-edge technology and sports, ushering in a new era of innovation for South African football. The partnership underscores HONOR’s commitment to integrating advanced technology into everyday life, enhancing performance, and bringing fans closer to the game,” the smartphone maker highlighted in a release shared with Hypertext.

“We are thrilled to partner with SAFA and Bafana Bafana at such an exciting time for both technology and sports. At HONOR, we believe that innovation should empower athletes, coaches, and fans alike. This partnership is a testament to the power of smart technology in optimising performance, recovery, and engagement both on and off the field,” added Fred Zhou, CEO at HONOR South Africa.

The announcement also comes at an important time for the company, as it relaunched as a brand in South Africa a couple of years ago, and has found notable success in that time, with its mid-range devices in particular proving popular among local consumers.

“With a remarkable 180% growth rate in 2024 and the milestone achievement of over one million units sold in South Africa, HONOR continues to revolutionise the smart device industry. The brand’s latest corporate strategy, the HONOR ALPHA PLAN, is set to transform the future of AI and smart technology, from digital AI agents to physical applications that will redefine human interaction with intelligent devices,” the company emphasised.

Moving forward, HONOR will assist Bafana Bafana by leveraging its understanding of AI, smart wearables, and data-driven insights. For example, the brand’s wearable technology will be used to help monitor player fitness, track recovery, and provide real-time analytics as the team focuses on performance. 

While it is clear how HONOR will be supporting Bafana Bafana from a technology perspective, it is unclear how long the sponsorship will last, along with no confirmation at this stage whether we will see HONOR branding on the team’s jerseys during matches.

That said, it is a notable partnership for the smartphone maker.

“We believe that technology and sports share a common purpose: to push boundaries, unlock potential and achieve the extraordinary. It has always been our goal to ensure that our business contributes to the growth and development of our sports and entertainment industry,” concluded Zhou.

[Image – Provided]