KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian football legend Safee Sali today unveiled the launch of his ‘Sepuluh’ non-fungible token (NFT), a series of 10 limited edition digital collectables that go on auction from noon today via the digital NFT marketplace, OpenSea.
Fans will have the opportunity to bid to become exclusive owners of 10 NFTs that will unlock unique benefits for its owners including an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the pitch with the footballer, a framed print-out of the NFT and access to a private community channel for members.
Through a shared vision of elevating fan engagement and building a tight-knit community, Safee partnered with Prime Sports NFT, an organisation aimed at nurturing opportunities for athletes and spearheading fan engagement initiatives.
The inspiration behind the ‘Sepuluh’ stems from Safee’s recollection of his crowning achievement as he led Malaysia to its first-ever AFF Suzuki Cup in 2010 and went on to earn a golden boot as the top scorer of the competition that year.
The NFT depicts Safee’s iconic celebration at the peak of his career which remains one of his greatest feats on the international stage.
“My vision for ‘Sepuluh’ was to capture my fondest memory in the Harimau Malaya jersey via digital art and enable fans to own a piece of my story as a collectable.
“My fans have been the pillar of support throughout my career and the ‘Sepuluh’ NFT opens the doors to forging closer bonds with them,” said Safee.
His partnership with Prime Sports NFT led to a collaboration with local artist Nicholas Chuan who worked hand-in-hand with Safee to design the collection.
“I’m honoured to have had the opportunity to work closely with a national hero like Safee and to realise his vision for the digital asset.
“While the creative journey has been an enriching one, the experience working collaboratively with innovative minds in sports such as himself has been my greatest takeaway,” said Nicholas.
Hailed from Penang, the 20-year-old artist carries a portfolio of illustrations for world-renowned organisations such as UEFA, Formula 1’s Red Bull Racing, Liverpool FC and FC Bayern.
‘Sepuluh’ NFTs also include a partnership with the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM), where a portion of the proceeds will be donated and channelled towards promoting, advancing and protecting the interest of professional footballers in Malaysia.
“Globally, digital assets are increasingly being rooted in the sporting world as means to fundamentally change how fans interact with their favourite teams and athletes.
“The launch of ‘Sepuluh’ NFT and the benefits it will unlock for its owners are a testament to that and we are excited to be enablers of this innovation.
“Our role in connecting Safee with a talented artist such as Nicholas has been truly rewarding and we are working with more like-minded athletes, artists and organisations in Malaysia,” said Prime Sports NFT founder Yong-Chul Yun.
Fans will have the opportunity to bid for a limited number of 10 NFTs in the collection until July 11 by 11.59 pm. – The Vibes, June 22, 2022
