HOW A CALL FROM COCA-COLA TURNED THEMBA BUTHELEZI INTO A BOK FOR A DAY
From a quiet afternoon in his garden to the roar of the stadium, Newcastle’s own Themba Buthelezi experienced a day he’ll never forget. The latest winner of Coca-Cola’s Be A Bok campaign, Themba was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step into the world of the Springboks—South Africa’s national rugby heroes.
THE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
It all began with a phone call. “I was at home, busy working in the garden, when I received a call from Coca-Cola,” Themba recalls. “I asked who it was, and when they said Coca-Cola, I immediately stopped everything. Then they told me I had won a ticket to the Springboks match.”
The surprise left him stunned. For a lifelong rugby fan, the chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the national team was surreal. But it was just the beginning.
A DAY IN THE GREEN AND GOLD
Stepping into the Springboks’ changing room, Themba’s excitement reached a new level when he found a T-shirt waiting for him—complete with his name on the back. “That moment was really special,” he says. But the real highlight? Sitting alongside the players during the match. “What I loved most, with all my heart, was sitting with the players. It’s a view that money can’t buy.”
From Newcastle to the stadium, Themba’s experience captures the essence of Be A Bok: celebrating South African rugby fans and letting them become part of the story.
THE ‘BE A BOK’ CAMPAIGN COMES TO A CLOSE
Launched in October, Coca-Cola’s Be A Bok campaign has turned passionate rugby supporters into VIPs for a day. Each of the six winners was given an unforgettable, all-access match-day experience with the Springboks, including exclusive access to the changing room, behind-the-scenes moments, and seats that made them feel like part of the team.
Here’s a look at all six winners and the stadiums they visited:
- Loftus – Louis Lopez
- Gqeberha – Kim van Wyk
- Mbombela – Brenda Jojozi
- Emirates – Quinton Lee
- DHL – Casilda Khunou
- Kings Park – Themba Buthelezi
For Themba, and all winners, Be A Bok wasn’t just a prize—it was an experience that brought the spirit of South African rugby to life, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
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