In the midst of power outages and short fuses, one man sits grinning from ear to ear basking in the light of what can only be described as unequalled, hard-earned success. Enter Makhaya Ntini.
Few would care to interrupt the thirty-something year old cricket icon and bowling sensation during this momentary reflection of his journey to this point.
2008 is his testimonial year, a fitting tribute to an athlete who has reached second place in the ICC test match bowling ratings and who helped to etch his name in the record books by taking 13 wickets for 132 runs against the West Indies in April 2005.
Ntini is quick to point out the importance of relationships and partnerships in both his professional and private life. He quickly refers to his personal relationship with the Gupta family and his responsibility as a brand ambassador for the Sahara Computers, supplier of ICT and digital lifestyle solutions.
"The first time I met representatives from Sahara was at a function at a cricket union, when the company had committed to sponsoring the UCB. It was at that time that I met and befriended Mr Atul Gupta, CMD of Sahara, and over time, this relationship has grown into a family bond," says Ntini.
"We share a lot and do a great deal for each other," he adds. "It's a personal friendship based on mutual respect and admiration."
Like many fellow sporting celebrities, Ntini is aware of the typically short life span of a professional career and understands the value of partnership with the business world.
He also concedes that the concept of a 'brand ambassador', a blanket term that refers to celebrity endorsement of commercial products and/or services, is still being established in South Africa and is nowhere near as organised and regulated as it is in places such as Europe, the Middle East or the Far East.
"But this is likely to change, especially with the continued prevalence of brands like Sahara - arguably one of the most effective and most recognised locally and internationally. I am proud to be associated with it and there is every reason to believe that the endorsement of good quality product by sportsmen will play a bigger role in commerce in the future, especially given the synergy that exists between the IT industry and sport," says Ntini.
Sahara management has no qualms about its effort to cement this partnership through the sponsorship of equipment and product. The company's deputy managing director, Gary Naidoo, explains why Sahara continues to place a premium on its contribution to South African sport and its ongoing valued partnership with icons like Ntini.
"It is an honour for us to have a personal and professional relationship with one of the country's great cricketers. Sahara's culture is based on commitment, determination, quality of service and an entrepreneurial spirit, which are similar in characteristics and principles to that of Makhaya," says Naidoo.
But, how does technology fit into the lifestyle of someone like Ntini? By his own admission he relies quite extensively on devices like notebooks and other digital lifestyle products to keep in regular contact with friends and loved ones - especially when he is away on tours.
"I always take my Sahara laptop, camera and MP3 player with me whenever and wherever I travel. We may be thousands of miles apart, but it helps to be able to communicate at the touch of a button - it really does make the world a smaller place. When I return home from a tour, I make it a priority to take my family away for a little while, to enjoy each other's company and for me to show them some of the places I have been to. Fortunately, I have the technology and means to record and store large files, including video and sound clips that I can easily access, modify and re-save," says Ntini.
And asked what keeps him driven and committed, Ntini's reply is simply that "loves his job" and his advice to those who look up to him is equally straightforward: "Never lose sight of your dreams, always have goals and never let circumstance get in the way of achieving what you would like," he adds.
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Established in 1997 Sahara Computers assembles and markets PCs and peripherals through a global distribution network that covers both established and emerging markets.
The company is an official distributor and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for a variety of top international vendors including: AMD, Creative, Delta, Epson, Foxconn, Intel, Lexmark, Maxtor, Microsoft, Samsung, SMC Networks and Symantec.
The core focus of Sahara's operation is the consistent and effective supply of product to rapidly expanding market sectors including corporate, government, digital lifestyle and mobile & wireless.
This operation is managed via the company's head office in Midrand, Gauteng, considered a central business hub. The Sahara business network stretches across South Africa and includes Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
Sahara Computers has successfully extended its reach to key regions and emerging global markets including Dubai, China and India. The Sahara brand is also well known across Africa, with established company presence in countries like Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique and Namibia.
Sahara is also an accredited member of the Proudly South African campaign as well as the Savant global SA brand awareness initiative. Corporate social responsibility is a key priority and it continues to contribute towards projects and programmes aimed at individual and community upliftment.
The name Sahara is widely associated with the development of sport, including soccer, cricket, and rugby, the support of ICT literacy and skills development initiatives, and access to much needed technology in rural areas.
Among the many sponsorship/technology supply agreements in place, Sahara also concluded a deal with Mamelodi Sundowns, a top ranking soccer club competing in South Africa's Professional Soccer League.
The sponsorship is underpinned by the provision of communications infrastructure and mobile technology - including laptops, notebooks and digital lifestyle technology - and signals Sahara's commitment to the club and South African soccer in general.
Effective marketing and generating awareness are significant elements of the company's ongoing marketing campaign.
Under the direction of Atul Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of Sahara, the company is on course to realize its vision of Sahara's vision to become a truly global brand and premier IT supplier throughout Africa.
For more information on Sahara Computers, its products and services, visit www.sahara.co.za.
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