THE giant Bafana Bafana jersey spent two days in Mdantsane this weekend, to give people a chance to sign the garment.

An Adidas initiative, the giant football jersey was unveiled in December 2009, to encourage and inspire South Africans to unite behind the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and the national team.

The massive 60m by 48m version of the jersey that the team will wear for the World Cup, weighs 240 kilograms and is travelling by truck from one town to the next.

On its trip around the country, the Unite Mzantsi Unite Truck Tour will stop at 300 venues. This will give South Africans a chance to sign the jersey and show their support for the national team and the month-long tournament, which begins on 11 June.

In Buffalo City, it was stationed at NU 15 Stadium and Sisa Dukashe Stadium in NU 2 on Saturday and Sunday, 30 and 31 January. Along with the jersey, the truck also brought pop-up games, soccer balls and vuvuzelas to add to the party atmosphere. Activities at the stops included mini soccer games, vuvuzela blowing competitions and racing games.

Uzile Thwani, a 12-year-old resident of NU 17, was at Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Sunday to leave his mark on the shirt. "I missed the truck at NU 15 so I made sure that today I got my signature on [it]," he said.

The truck has already stopped in Port Elizabeth and Western Cape towns. It left East London with more than 75 000 signatures on the shirt. "I'm so excited that my name is on that T-shirt. I love Bafana Bafana," said Uzile.

It will spend a day or two at all nine host cities, schools, malls, Bafana Bafana games, rural areas and other soccer activities.

According to the Shine 2010 website, the campaign will inspire South Africans to unite as a nation by wearing yellow, the colour of the new Bafana Bafana 2010 FIFA World Cup™ home jersey.

Speaking about the giant jersey, the City's 2010 project manager, Roy Young, said: "This is a good initiative to encourage locals to rally and unite to have a successful tournament."

Adidas, the sports apparel company, had caused hype around the country for 2010 and everyone was looking forward to being part of the World Cup.

The World Cup takes place between 11 June and 11 July, with matches being held at 10 different stadiums around the country, including the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

People can also sign the jersey using digital options on the Shine 2010 website, via mobile and at selected retail stores.