Bafana Bafana rising star Teboho Mokoena ruffled feathers with his comments about EFF leader Julius Malema, and it seems Puma is not entirely happy about it.
UPDATE: Teboho Mokoena has since dispelled the rumours of a Puma boycott, claiming it’s all fake news in a tweet you can see below.
Puma boycott: Is the brand cutting ties with Teboho Mokoena?
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This is the speculation that’s spurred a Puma boycott online.
According to a sports microblogger, the retail brand, which also sponsors Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns, is considering its relationship with Mokoena after the player declared Malema his “favourite president.”
We contacted Puma for comment on the speculation and a response was not received when this article was published.
Details about Mokoena’s deal with Puma are also sketchy. However, from what we understand, the Sundowns star is currently under a personal sponsorship contract with the brand.
Here’s what Mokoena said about his relationship with Puma in a City Press interview from February 2023:
“Puma is one of the biggest brands in the world. The boots, which are my primary tools, are top level. On top of that, the level of service from the company is exceptional. All my needs are timeously catered for and we players are all treated the same.”
Much of Mokoena’s appreciation, which may be a sentiment shared by the rest of the team, stems from the EFF’s unrelenting calls for the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the national government to prioritise Bafana Bafana’s ambitions in the same vein Springboks are lauded.
When the boys were eliminated by the Super Eagles in an intense AFCON 2023 semifinal fixture, no word was heard from President Cyril Ramaphosa about the valiant effort Bafana Bafana put to make it that far in the tournament.
However, Malema, a marksman in timing and execution, was one of the first political leaders to applaude the squad. In particular, the EFF leader championed Grant Kekana, who was sent off for a harsh foul on Terem Moffi in extra time.
“Well done, my boy. A soldier must die with his boots on,” Malema tweeted at the time.
Kekana reciprocated Malema’s cheers, referring to the EFF leader as, “My President.”
With details about the Puma boycott still trickling in, here’s how social media reacted to the rumours:
