Thursday marked a landmark day for grassroots football in Soweto as Hisense South Africa officially launched the development of a new community soccer pitch, using the moment to send a powerful message of support from the community to Bafana Bafana.
Held at the iconic Soweto Towers, the event marked the beginning of a long-term project that will create a safe, inspiring and purpose-built space for young South Africans to play, train and grow through football. Once completed, the pitch will host youth soccer cups and community football programmes designed to develop skills, build confidence and open new pathways for local talent.
The launch moment was given national resonance through a special Bafana Bafana support video featuring young players from the community, representatives from Hisense South Africa, the City of Johannesburg, ward councillors and invited media. The video captured the spirit of Soweto as young footballers looked into the camera and sent their wishes to South Africa’s national team as the country’s football pride took centre stage.
Raw, joyful and unmistakably South African, the film transformed the launch from a construction announcement into a rallying call. From one of South Africa’s most historic townships came a simple but powerful message: the future of football is not only built in stadiums, but also on the community fields where young players first begin to dream.
A Partner for 30 Years
Hisense has been operating in South Africa since 1996, building not only products, but a long-standing presence rooted in local investment, access and community participation. Thursday’s launch reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to turning sponsorship into substance by investing directly in a grassroots football platform with long-term community value.
“We don’t just operate in South Africa – we have built alongside South Africa for nearly three decades,” said Luna Nortje Deputy General Manager at Hisense South Africa. “This pitch development is a promise to the next generation. The video is a message from Soweto to Bafana Bafana, but the project itself is a longer-term commitment to young people, community pride and the belief that sport can open doors. Thursday was not the finish line; it was the day we put our hands on the future.”
The new Soweto pitch will serve as a youth development hub, combining sport, education and community participation in a safe environment. By creating a dedicated home for youth football, Hisense SA aims to help the beautiful game become a lasting engine of opportunity for the next generation.
#HandsOnTheFuture
The event marked the next chapter of Hisense’s #HandsOnTheFuture campaign, a literal and metaphorical call to action. It reflects a commitment to building with consumers and communities, not only speaking to them. In Soweto, that commitment took shape through the launch of a pitch development project that will continue long after Thursday’s event.
As the Bafana Bafana wishes video begins its journey across digital platforms, one thing is clear: Hisense SA has done more than announce a construction project. It has connected South Africa’s love of football with a tangible vision for community development, and reminded the country that some of the biggest football dreams begin on local fields.
As global attention turns to global football, Thursday’s spotlight belonged to Soweto: a community where a new pitch is set to rise, where young players were given a voice, and where a message of support for Bafana Bafana became the launch signal for something much bigger.
