Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana star Khuliso Mudau has turned one of football’s most recognisable running jokes into a major commercial win.
He has officially become a brand ambassador for iconic South African bubblegum brand Chappies.
KHULISO MUDAU TURNS GUM INTO GOLD
The right-back’s famous habit of chewing gum during matches had become a regular talking point among South African football supporters.
His fans repeatedly shared clips, memes and jokes about the Sundowns star rarely taking to the pitch without his trademark bubblegum.
What started as a social media joke has now become an official partnership.
For months, football fans across Mzansi closely followed Mudau’s chewing habit, with supporters turning his matchday routine into a social media phenomenon.
Football statistics platform OptaJabu even joined in on the fun, jokingly keeping track of the hundreds of pieces of gum the defender had chewed since joining the Brazilians.
The campaign eventually caught the attention of Chappies, transforming the running joke among Sundowns supporters into a real commercial opportunity for the defender.
Mudau, affectionately known as Sailor, now joins a select group of South African football personalities associated with the iconic brand.
The partnership has been celebrated by Sundowns supporters, particularly because it represents a perfect example of how an organic fan joke can evolve into a major endorsement.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS STAR FACES LONG ABSENCE
The commercial breakthrough comes at a difficult time for Mudau on the football pitch.
The defender recently suffered a devastating Achilles tendon rupture during a Betway Premiership match, with the non-contact injury requiring surgery and ruling him out for an extended period.
The Sundowns and Bafana Bafana will consequently have to cope without one of their key right-backs for several months, with head coach Miguel Cardoso confirming the severity of the setback.
While Mudau faces a long road back to competitive football, his latest off-field development provides something positive during a challenging period.
