KFC has snapped up the chance to sponsor the Supa Strikas. According to Strika Entertainment CEO, Richard Morgan-Grenville, “The opportunity to sponsor the team has only been available twice - once, in 2001, when the comic was conceived and now, over 120 issues later. We are hugely excited to have KFC come aboard and feel that they are a perfect match for our brand given their relevance to our target market.”

On top of a change in sponsor, the Supa Strikas also have a new pitch to play on. In June this year the team made the move from Sunday Times to You, Huisgenoot and Drum. They can be seen playing the beautiful game the last week of every month within the 24-page comic that accompanies each publication. The Huisgenoot edition has been translated into Afrikaans and plans are in place for a Zulu version in the Drum Zulu language edition. The Supa Strikas also make weekly appearances in both Move! and Kick Off magazines. Morgan-Grenville says, “There has been an increase in demand for the comic and what better way to reach Supa Strika fans than through their family’s favourite magazines.”

The Supa Strikas' local popularity has been echoed internationally with the squad having a presence in over 20 countries worldwide and a monthly print run of over a million copies. In addition, the animated series is aired in 35 countries around the world on over 20 channels such as Nickelodeon, Disney, StarHub, ESPN STAR Sports, BBC, Orange, Caracol, SABC and Al Jazeera Kids. Now ,thanks to the success of the first two seasons, Strika Entertainment has presold the third season to global broadcast giants Disney and Nickelodeon. “The show has been hailed as the most internationally broadcast piece of TV to ever come out of South Africa – an achievement of which we are incredibly proud,” shares Morgan-Grenville.

Morgan-Grenville concludes, “The Supa Strikas brand has been growing successfully locally and internationally for over 10 years, but we feel we are only scratching the surface. We have a fantastic team of creative staff and see no reason why the characters won’t still be here in 100 years.”