Internationally renowned South African artist Nelson Makamo to birth Betway Premiership trophy

Internationally renowned South African artist Nelson Makamo is hard at work to design the inaugural trophy of the Betway Premiership for the Premier Soccer League’s 2024/25 season.

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The league and Betway South Africa expressed their excitement in announcing the news about the developments of their ground-breaking Betway Premiership trophy design in collaboration with the Limpopo-born Makamo.
His bespoke artistry continues to be revered on the global stage and has partnered with Betway as the creative and cultural spearhead in a first-of-its-kind design journey that will culminate in the unveiling of the trophy towards the end of the season.

As he began his creative odyssey into the heart of South African football heritage, Makamo recently met with league chairperson Dr Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza at the league’s headquarters as part of his research phase into developing the trophy.The meeting with Khoza was for the league to walk Makamo through the rich history of South African premiership football, the league’s evolution into being the best league in Africa and how the Betway Premiership trophy can symbolise this phenomenal rise.

“It was an honour to meet the chairman. There was no way this project could have started without first receiving his blessings because he knows so much about the history and the football legacy in this country,” Makamo said.
Makamo, who also grew up playing the game and was named after one of South Africa’s greatest players, Nelson ‘Teenage’ Dladla, expressed his delight to be a part of such a historic moment for the sport in the country.
“I can say that football is in my blood. I know what it has done for us as a people, and when I received this call, I was humbled by the opportunity and the responsibility given to me.

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“I have worked around the world but this project means so much to me because it is something that we will look at years from now and be proud of what we have created,” Makamo said of the new trophy design.

Welcoming Makamo’s appointment, Khoza pointed out that football and art were deeply ingrained across South African culture. “I was very excited when I heard that Betway is working with a talent of Makamo’s calibre. Football and art are about expression, emotion and people.
“Makamo’s work speaks for itself and having now met him, I know he has a deep passion for football and the game’s history in this country. I am so proud that this trophy will be created by one of our own, to celebrate the very best of us,” Khoza said.
“I am a football fan first. So, I want to see this new trophy for the first time when the rest of South Africa sees it. I love surprises, and I cannot wait to see what Nelson Makamo creates.”

Betway’s head of marketing Mark Rowles said, “Collaborating with an artist is ambitious and exciting, which is exactly what we and the league are about. His work has gone around the world, and he represents the very best
that we have to offer as a country.
“We are delighted to have him on board, to create something unique, which will live forever as a testament to our commitment to football.
“We want the football lovers of South Africa to feel involved in the process. This is not just a Betway Premiership trophy. It is also their trophy. We want this to be an enduring symbol of the wonderful impact that football has had on millions of people across generations.”

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