When sporting icons Damian Willemse (rugby), Laura Wolvaardt (cricket), and Rele Mofokeng (football) step off the field, they don’t drop their sense of unity, they carry it like a favorite jersey stitched to the skin.
In adidas’ FW25 Z.N.E. campaign,A Team Way of Life, they step into off-duty fits that feel as natural as a teammate’s pat on the back.
This campaign is like a winning playbook. It’s about individual flair as well as celebrating the power of a team bond that stays intact even when the stadium empties.
Today, adidas’ sporting cultural icons Damian Willemse, Laura Wolvaardt and Rele Mofokeng spearhead the new local FW25 ADIDAS Z.N.E. campaign, A Team Way of Life, in their off-duty style.
Through these athletes, adidas shows how the Z.N.E. uniform keeps teammates connected in the locker room, on the sidelines, and everywhere in between.
The showpiece two-piece, bathed in plum and black, is as versatile as a utility athlete, morphing effortlessly between sport-culture hotspots.
South African Cricket star Laura Wolfaardt Photo: adidas
Crafted with a 3D material structure, Primeknit comfort, a soft cotton touch, matte-finish stripes, and a technical mesh lining, it moves with the wearer like a scrumhalf weaving through traffic.
Singer-choreographer Tate McRae likens the tracksuit to her ultimate off-stage playmaker:
“I spend so much time on the road with my team and being comfy is essential for us all. I am all about sporty style vibes.
“I need track-style pieces that I can wear from the tour bus to rehearsals and then to hang with my crew go-carting. That’s exactly what ADIDAS Z.N.E. offers.
“I love the blank canvas aesthetic. It lets me style it how I want and works for so many off-stage moments.”
Teen phenom Lamine Yamal echoes the same winning synergy as a captain leading his side:
“Being comfortable is important to me in general. Whether it is on the pitch with my teammates, off the pitch with my friends, or just about the clothes I wear, it matters.
“My ADIDAS Z.N.E. tracksuit is a look that makes me feel and move as I like to. In my own way.”
The FW25 ADIDAS Z.N.E. collection including hoodies, trackpants, tees, and shorts lands globally from late August 2025, ready to be scored via the adidas website, app, or stores everywhere.
The clock is ticking and the countdown boards are flashing with just 50 days to go before the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
Africa’s premier marathon is shifting gears and hitting full stride, sprinting towards Abbott World Marathon Majors glory. And this year’s start line promises to be stacked like never before.
On Thursday, 28 August, the organisers unveiled the headline stars of the fourteenth edition, with 6 platinum and 8 gold-status athletes set to lace up on Sunday, 19 October. For the sold-out field of 24,000 runners, the stage is set for a showdown worthy of the Mother City’s streets.
Double Olympian Caster Semenya shares her thoughts on Sanlam Cape Town Marathon becoming an Abbott World Marathon Major:
Running Towards Greatness
“With the help of our partners, the City of Cape Town, and the citizens of the Mother City, we achieved an unconditional pass for Stage 1 of our Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy in 2024,” said Clark Gardner, CEO of theSanlam Cape Town Marathon.
Like a runner finding an extra gear in the final kilometre, Gardner underlined the event’s growing momentum:
“In 2025, we are undertaking Stage 2 and to that end have secured the best elite marathon field in the race’s history.
“Where London and New York vie to be the biggest marathons in the world, we believe the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon can be the best.
“Our beautiful route, the dedication of our sponsors and partners, and the enthusiasm of the city’s runners and residents are key to achieving this feat.”
Elite Showdowns at the Front of the Pack
The elite field is as sharp as the tip of a racing spike.
In the men’s race, Ronald Korit (Kenya, PB 2:04:22) arrives as the fastest man in the field, shadowed by compatriot Bethwel Chumba Kibet (2:04:37). South Africa’s new marathon record-holder Elroy Gelant (2:05:36) is breathing down their necks, just four seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Boki Kebede Asefa.
All will have their sights on the 2024 course record of 2:08:16, set by Abdisa Tola.This mark is now in serious danger of being left behind like a fading pacesetter.
The women’s race has its own drama scripted. Leading the charge is South Africa’s Gerda Steyn, the undisputed queen of local ultra-running.
“I’m so excited and so honoured to announce that I will be lining up for the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon,” Steyn said with a smile.
“I can’t wait for the 19th of October! And most of all to share the beautiful route with thousands and thousands of my fellow runners.
“The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has always been close to my heart, and the last time I ran this race was in 2021.
“I can still remember crossing the finish line that day. I felt so proud that we have such an amazing race here on South African soil.”
She will face an all-star peloton including Kenya’s Winfridah Moseti (2:16:56) and Angela Tanui (2:17:57), as well as Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba (2:19:59). South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba, who dethroned Steyn’s course record in 2024, will not be back to defend her title.
Sanlam’s backing goes beyond the water tables and medals.
“What began as a sponsorship in 2014 has grown into a strategic partnership aimed at positioning the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon as Africa’s first and only World Marathon Major,” said Shadi Chauke, Group Executive for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Sanlam.
“As a Pan-African organisation, we are deeply committed to unlocking the continent’s potential and creating meaningful impact that extends well beyond the finish line.”
Already, 62 fundraising champions have raised nearly R200,000 for 18 charities via the GivenGain portal. Chauke added:
“Through partnerships with the Caster Semenya Foundation, CANSA, and WWF South Africa, we are advancing youth sports development, health, and environmental sustainability. We invite every runner to turn their race into a force for good through GivenGain.”
Final Kick to the Finish
With the field set, the excitement building, and the countdown clock ticking, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is running full tilt towards history. Africa’s best will battle for glory, while thousands more will chase their own finish-line dreams.
adidas, too, is leaving footprints bigger than its shoes.
“For adidas, our role as technical partner goes beyond supplying kit; it’s about supporting the culture of running in Africa,” said Tom Brown, Senior Brand Director at adidas.
‘Run For Africa’ is central to that vision, rewarding runners who start and finish the marathon in adidas shoes with a R2,000 adidas voucher, and building pride in this community.
adidas has created a limited-edition Cape Town Marathon Boston 13 shoe to commemorate the 2025 race. Photo by adidas.
“The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon shows what’s possible when innovation meets purpose, from the race tee to the limited-edition Cape Town Marathon Boston 13. Every touchpoint is about leaving a legacy for runners well beyond the finish line.”
The Mother City is ready. The runners are ready. And the race is just 50 days away.
After eight years on the sidelines adidas has dusted off its boots and jogged back into the DHL Stormers’ starting XV as official technical sponsor.
The three stripes are back in Cape Town, and they’ve come to make a statement not just as a rugby kit, but as part of the culture.
“It’s a great honour for us to be reunited with the DHL Stormers again,” says Tom Brown, Senior Brand Director at adidas South Africa.
“The team and the dynamic way they play rugby embodies the flair and passion of their supporters. This partnership is about more than sport; it’s about honouring tradition whilst also celebrating a new era of bold ambition.”
Home Kit: Reunite the Stripes
The home jersey is rugby’s equivalent of a well-timed hand-off: classic, powerful, impossible to ignore. Those blue and white hoops are stitched like the DNA of Newlands itself.
It’s bold, uncompromising, and unapologetically Stormers. It’s heritage with a modern polish, a jersey that looks just as good under the Saturday sun as it does when drenched in the sweat of a one-point thriller.
It honours history with every stripe a reminder of where the club’s been, and every hoop a promise of where it’s going.
Away Kit: Remix the Stripes
The away jersey concept “Remix the Stripes” takes on a vibrant twist. Inspired by the spirited streets of Bo-Kaap, a neighbourhood known for its deep rugby heritage, cultural diversity and vibrantly decorated homes, the jersey bursts with electric hues of lucid pink, lime burst, and lucid cyan. A remix of tradition that celebrates freedom, energy, and individuality.
It’s rugby kit reimagined for a generation that refuses to blend in. Call it the sidestep to convention with a vibrant celebration of freedom, individuality, and the multicultural heartbeat of Cape Town. If the home kit is the anthem, the away jersey is the remix.
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said that having adidas back on board is a big moment for the team and their supporters.
“We are all thrilled to have adidas back and we know that our fans will embrace this move and the incredible kit that we will be playing in this season.
“The two designs speak to the rich rugby heritage of this region. The iconic blue and white hoops are synonymous with the rich history of rugby in the Cape, while the away jersey pays homage to the Bo-Kaap which has produced so many passionate rugby people over the years, including those who were involved in some of the first organised matches on the Green Point Common, just a stone’s throw away from our stadium.
“Our players and supporters will wear this kit with pride this season and we can’t wait to get going,” he said.
Kit Built for Collisions
Of course, flair is nothing without function. These aren’t jerseys made to hang politely in sports shops but they’re engineered for bruising battles in the trenches.
Crafted from 100% recycled polyester doubleknit, they wick away sweat quicker than a winger spotting space in the backfield. Lightweight yet stubbornly durable, with reinforced stitching in high-stress zones, they’re designed to hold up against the dark arts of the scrum.
The athletic fit is snug but never strangling. Think of it as a jersey that knows how to tackle but can still dance.
The Comeback We’ve Been Waiting For
At R999, Stormers fans can finally pull on the stripes and hoops once more. The home jersey drops on 19 September, while the Bo-Kaap-inspired away kit lands on 3 October.
The home jersey is available from 19 September, and the away jersey is available from 3 October at stormersshop.co.za, select adidas retail stores, adidas.co.za, select sports retailers and at DHL Stadium on matchdays.
Eight years apart, and now reunited. The DHL Stormers and adidas are back together and ready to charge head-down into a new era.
Stripes and hoops, stitched for glory, built to withstand hits harder than a Frans Malherbe scrum.
For every ten minutes of movement logged by users on the adidas Running App, adidas is pledging to donate €1 – up to €1.5 million – between 10th and 22nd May.
Users can log time against over 100 sports including the likes of Handball, Zumba Fitness, Padel and many more.
Partnerships with Common Goal and the UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Action to support projects that offer sustainability education and help to make sports facilities more resilient against extreme weather
South Africa, May 2, 2024 – Today, adidas announces the return of Move For The Planet – its global initiative harnessing collective movement to create collective impact. adidas is calling on all athletes at every level across the world to track their physical activity across a variety of sports to raise money for projects in areas impacted by heat waves, flooding, and other extreme weather conditions.
Extreme weather conditions are having an increasing impact on the places people play and practice sport. From the neighbourhood pitches to global sports venues. Statistics reveal that by 2050, almost one-fourth of the English football league team’s stadiums (23 out of 92) are projected to be partially or completely flooded every year. Further research by the UN states that approximately half of former Winter Olympic host cities will likely be unable to host future games in the same timeframe.
In 2023, over a million people took part in the first year of Move For The Planet, with the leading activities for minutes recorded including running (63.1%), walking (17.9%) and cycling (9.2%).
This year adidas has expanded the initiative to include over 100 sports including Football, Kayaking, Jump Rope, Powerlifting and many more.
In 2024, for every ten minutes of movement logged on the adidas Running App between 10th – 22nd May, adidas will donate €1 – up to a total of €1.5 million. These funds will be used to help create real world change, through education on sustainability and the enhancement of facilities to make them more resilient against extreme weather conditions.
Ashley Czarnowski, Senior Director, Global Purpose Marketing at adidas said: “We’re excited to build on the success of the first year of Move for The Planet, which brought together a community of over one million people across the world.
This year people can record movement in over 100 sports and we are expanding the impact of the programme to include a new set of projects and initiatives. Whether it’s taking part at the grassroots or competing at the highest level, we all have a deep connection to the places we play. Together we can unite as a global sporting community to help some of those places, by making sports facilities more resilient to extreme weather conditions and providing education on sustainability.”
Common Goal is a global impact movement that aims to shift society towards a more sustainable and equitable future through sport – who unite Community organisations, athletes, clubs, brands and other stakeholders to collaborate towards the wellbeing of our people and planet.
Olivia Baston-Pitt, Senior Impact Sponsorship Manager at Common Goal said: “We’re thrilled that the Move For The Planet initiative is back for a second year. The success of last year meant we were able to increase the accessibility of sport for individuals who haven’t always had that privilege.
Take the Cancha Violeta sports space in San Pedro Xalostoc, Mexico, where we were able to support the installation of a brand-new multi-sport pitch and a drainage programme that collects water for the neighbouring grass pitch and garden.
Alongside Common Goal, adidas will also be supporting UN Climate Change – Sports for Climate Action to develop a series of training modules for sports and NGOs operating in the nexus of sport and development. The UN Climate Change is the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change. The partnership is centered on using sport to educate and engage communities on climate-related topics and sustainable practices.
The funds created by Move For The Planet will go towards creating publicly accessible training materials as well as the hosting of training sessions with networks of NGOs and other organisations to enable them to transform communities in the service of future for sport on a thriving planet.
When we feel empowered to tell our stories, there are no limits to how much we can inspire others. Through BEYOND MY IMPOSSIBLE, adidas is empowering 11 women to cross their first marathon finish line, at the 2022 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in October, while sharing their journey to the start line with the running community.
The Coach
COACH KATHLEEN SHUTTLEWORTH
Living out her core value, “Driven by passion, pursuing excellence” since 2004, Coach Kathleen has guided numerous athletes to achieving provincial and national medals in track, cross country and biathlon.
She’s also helped many runners of all levels to conquer their first marathon or achieve that elusive personal best. Now she is putting her considerable talents to helping 11 women tackle their first marathon.
The Runners
ZOE BROWN Age: 32 Resides: Rondebosch
Bio:Zoe describes herself as an “ordinary girl with an extraordinary job.”
She’s a radio presenter for The Flash Drive from 15h00-19h00 on KFM 94.5, and a TV presenter on the Expresso Show on SABC 3.
Bio: Ncebakazi runs with the adidas Runners Cape Town crew and is a hiking fanatic. She describes herself as an adventure enthusiast and the “coolest aunt, daughter and sister!”
Her latest adventure is being on a journey to finish her first marathon.
Bio: As a medical doctor and mother of four, Lenise is an advocate for a healthy lifestyle. She loves taking on new challenges, and this year has chosen to compete in her first full marathon. Her future goal is to participate in major international marathons, while experiencing many wonderful countries and cultures around the world.
Bio:Leatitia is a wife and mom, who works in the pharmaceutical industry. She describes herself as a Christian girl from Mitchell’s Plain trying to better herself, and hoping it will empower other women in the process.
She believes that “we rise by lifting others.” When it comes to the Cape Town Marathon, Leatitia says she’s going to run with purpose: “I’m pacing myself and I’m going to end strong!”
YENTLE ARENDSE Age: 33 Resides: Parow
Bio:Yentle is married, has a son and two more stepchildren, and works at a signage company. Family is really important to her, as she lost her Dad at a young age, and sadly, also her mom at the end of 2020. She spends most weekends running, watching her husband and children play soccer, and watching English football.
Bio:Jana spent most of her life in the bushveld of Limpopo. She recently moved to the West Coast in the Cape, and is fulfilling her dream to live at the beach.
Jana is a lawyer and enjoys going on all sorts of adventures while exploring her home country.
Bio:Ashleigh was born profoundly deaf in Cape Town with an identical womb-mate. She received a cochlear implant at the tender age of five and obtained full language. Today she’s a go-getter who enjoys outdoor activities and exploring hidden gems in South Africa and abroad.
Ashleigh is a graphic designer, a deaf awareness advocate, and is always ready to take on a new challenge!
Bio:Having experienced health challenges after being diagnosed with PCOS during her infertility journey, Melissa now considers running her medicine, her coping mechanism, and her quiet time with God. She says she is running towards the vision of becoming a happier, healthier individual, wife, and mother one day soon!
Bio:Tracey is a 40-year-old single mother to a young daughter and two fur babies. She is passionate about flowers, fitness, fierce females, furry friends, and the outdoors.
Tracey is an advocate for mental health and women’s empowerment, and she firmly believes that women need to uplift, encourage, motivate, support and celebrate each other.
