A Birmingham man who had only just woken up said he felt like he was still dreaming after a surprise home reveal saw him win his dream BMW in an online competition.
Surprise Win for Tesfalem Tsegay
Tesfalem Tsegay won a BMW X1 xDrive23d xLine after entering BOTB's weekly Spot the Ball Dream Car Competition. The 50-year-old was at home and had only just woken up when he received a surprise visit from BOTB presenter Nicole Jeffery, who arrived to reveal the exciting news before leading him down the road to where his new car was parked.
"That's great. It's my dream car," said Tesfalem, when he first spotted the BMW. "It's totally unexpected."
Still Sinking In
Speaking a couple of days after his win, Tesfalem said the reality of what had happened was still sinking in. He said: "It's so exciting to win. I still can't believe it. I was asleep when the BOTB team turned up, so I felt like it was a dream. The reaction from friends, family and people in my local community has been very positive. Everyone has been surprised and has offered their congratulations."
Tesfalem has been playing BOTB competitions for around two years and signed up to BOTB Pass in January. The membership automatically enters players into selected competitions, meaning he had no idea he had won until Nicole arrived at his door. After being shown his prize, Tesfalem was invited to sit inside the BMW while Nicole pointed out some of its standout features.
"It's a nice one and very comfortable," he said as he got behind the wheel of his dream car for the first time.
Cash Alternative for Family and Business
Despite his love for the vehicle, Tesfalem said he is planning to take the cash alternative instead, which he says he will use to support his family and invest in his business. "I run private tuition classes to help students prepare for their GCSE examinations, and I intend to use part of the money to support and develop this area of work," he said. "The remaining amount will be used to support my family."
Nicole said: "This was a brilliant surprise reveal because Tesfalem genuinely had no idea what was about to happen. When he opened the door, he'd only just woken up and was still trying to work out why I was standing there. He was incredibly calm, but you could see from his face that he was completely shocked. As soon as he saw the BMW, he told us it was his dream car, which is always amazing to hear. Those are the moments that make these surprise visits so special. The X1 is a fantastic prize. It's stylish, practical, packed with technology and really enjoyable to drive, so it's easy to see why it was at the top of his wish list. Although he's planning to take the cash alternative, it's wonderful to hear how he intends to use it."
About BOTB
BOTB hands over the keys to a dream car each week, while also offering players the option of a cash alternative and a range of lifestyle prizes. It is also currently offering people the chance to win a luxury three-bedroom home in Central London worth £1.2 million in a competition costing just £1. Founded in 1999, BOTB has given away prizes to over 637,000 people, including £155m-worth of cars so far.
