Nike Unveils New England Home Kit

Classic look inspired by England’s first kit to celebrate the Football Association’s 150th anniversary.

The new England kit was unveiled today, with the first official sighting via a picture posted on twitter by England midfielder Jack Wilshere of a pupil at his former school wearing the jersey, demonstrating that the kit belongs to the nation, not just the players lucky enough to represent England. Following its reveal via social media, Nike has created a campaign emphasising that while the kit may feature technical innovation and performance benefits, it cannot win games by itself, and it is what the players do in it that counts.

Wilshere arrived to watch a training session at The Priory School in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, before picking out lucky student Jason Kelly to wear and reveal the shirt for the first time.

“This is where my dream of playing for England started and it’s great to be back here to see a new generation playing with the same passion," Wilshere said. "I gave Jason the shirt because his commitment and work-rate really impressed me today, he showed that it’s what you do on the pitch that matters — from your first match as a nine year-old all the way up to the international stage.”

A clean, distinctive design takes the kit back to its roots with its traditional colors of white and dark blue to celebrate the Football Association’s 150th anniversary. The iconic three lions crest was prominently featured in dark blue on the team's first kit, and once again, the crest is the proud focus - now with a gold border, a gold star above it signifying England’s World Cup win, and a gold ribbon graphic below inscribed with "150 years" and the dates 1863 and 2013, marking the Football Association’s anniversary.

The blue on the new kit is the same dark blue colour that featured on England's first kit. Embodying the clean lines and understated style of the best of English fashion, the white shirt features a dark blue classic crew neck collar, while two side vents on the hem of the shirt subtly feature the St George’s cross. The shorts are entirely dark blue and the socks are white with a thin dark blue band at the top.

The kit showcases Nike’s belief in style, craft and pride while aiding the performance of players with key technological features.

RECYCLED POLYESTER

·         The kit is made from recycled polyester as part of Nike’s commitment to produce performance apparel with reduced environmental impact. The shirt and shorts of each kit are made from up to thirteen recycled plastic water bottles.

·         In the pioneering process, plastic bottles are chopped into flakes, then melted down to form yarn that is spun into fabric, reducing energy consumption by up to 30 percent compared to manufacturing virgin polyester.

·         Since 2010, Nike has diverted more than 1.1 billion plastic bottles from landfill through the use of recycled polyester.

FABRIC AND NIKE DRI-FIT

·         The kit weighs just 150 grams, 23 percent lighter than previous Nike kits. It also boasts a 20 percent stronger knit structure and significantly improved stretch.

·         The fabric uses Nike Dri-FIT technology to draw sweat away from the body through the fabric where it can evaporate, to keep players cool and dry.

·         Ventilation zones, consisting of tiny laser-cut holes, feature under the arms on both sides, as well as at the shorts waistband, to allow additional comfort and cooling. A mesh panel across the entire back increases air circulation.

FIT AND CONSTRUCTION

·         Nike embarked on an innovative programme of 3D body scans of some of the world’s leading players to produce a more athletic fit tailored to footballers' physiques.

The shirt has been crafted with bonded T-bars to support the seams at key points and inner welded seams with a clean finish to give a more striking appearance, while also increasing comfort and performance.

Mosimane, Ng’ambi take Q4 top honours

Pitso Mosimane, who led a revitalised Mamelodi Sundowns outfit, and Platinum Stars midfielder Robert Ng’ambi have been named as the Absa Premiership Coach and Player of Quarter 4 respectively and both walk away with R15 000 for their efforts.  

While the curtain came down on the Absa Premiership  this past weekend with the official presentation of the Absa Premiership Trophy being handed to Kaizer Chiefs, there was still the matter at hand of recognising the standout achievers during Quarter 4.

Mosimane has transformed the fortunes of the Brazilians and is slowly sowing the seeds for a solid campaign in 2013/2014. When he took over as the Head Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, the club was floundering in the bottom half of the table but he has steadied the ship and has got the team playing an attractive brand of football that has yielded positive results of late. Three wins, three draws and a single defeat almost saw the club seal a place in the top eight, with the club narrowly missing out. 

Platinum Stars midfield star Robert Ng’ambi has enjoyed a productive season where he has netted 7 goals so far in this campaign. He has really come to form in Quarter 4, where he has scored crucial goals for the club and played an integral part in Platinum Stars maintaining their outside chance of attaining league glory. The judging panel praised Ng’ambi for his a tremendous work-rate, performing a box-to-box role for the club and his passing and playing style that is easy on the eye.   

Absa Sponsorship Manager Steward Masela was full of praise for the wining duo saying, “It’s clear that Pitso Mosimane has made an impact on Mamelodi Sundowns and their 5-2 victory against Black Leopards showed a glimpse of what we can expect next season while Robert Ng’ambi has been instrumental for Platinum Stars this season and enjoyed a very productive Q4.”

The Absa Premiership judging panel discussed several candidates who all made a case for winning the Coach of Quarter 4. Other candidates included Dikwena coach Cavin Johnson who has ensured that surprise package Platinum Stars kept pace at the summit of the table throughout the season, Clive Barker for leading Bidvest Wits to a superb top four finish, Clinton Larsen for guiding Bloemfontein Celtic into 5th position, while Mark Harrison’s contribution to Chippa United’s cause also deserves merit.

  

With regards to players in contention for top honours during Q4, Botswana international Joel Mogorosi has of late proved why Bloemfontein Celtic splashed the cash to secure his services at the beginning of the season.

French Champions Paris Saint-Germain Celebrate New Nike Home Kit

Next season's bold kit embraces league-winning PSG's ambitions and heritage.

Newly crowned league champions Paris Saint-Germain today unveil their new home kit on-pitch at their last game of this victorious season.  The new look for the 2013-14 season comes the club embarks on a new chapter after a 19-year quest to reclaim the French league title.

The navy blue home shirt boasts a modern new graphic on the front of the shirt starting with a white block at the top, blue in the center and red at the bottom. The color-blocking evolved from the distinctive vertical and historical stripe design, which has traditionally appeared on the shirt.

This dominant combination of colors reflects the dominance Paris Saint-Germain seek on the football pitch, while each color reflects a different club value: blue for grandeur, red for passion and white to represent respect. The shirt also has a blue ribbed crew neck collar and contrasting red ribbed cuffs on the sleeves.

The new home shorts are blue with a thin red stripe along each side. The socks are blue with a white-and-red band at the top, along with the more traditional red-and-white stripe on the back to give players greater visual acuity on the pitch.

The bold new kit showcases Nike’s inherent belief in style, craft and strong aesthetics, while aiding the performance of players with key technological features.

RECYCLED POLYESTER

·         The kit is made from recycled polyester in accord with Nike’s commitment to produce athletic wear with a low environmental impact. The shirt and shorts of each kit are made from up to thirteen recycled plastic water bottles.

·         In the pioneering process plastic bottles are melted down to form yarn that is spun into recycled polyester, reducing energy consumption by up to 30 percent compared to manufacturing virgin polyester.

·         Since 2010, Nike has diverted more than 1.1 billion plastic bottles from landfills through the use of recycled polyester.

FABRIC AND NIKE DRI-FIT

·         The kit is made of fabric weighing just 150 grams, 23 percent lighter than previous Nike kits. It also boasts a 20 percent stronger knit structure and significantly improved stretch.

·         The fabric is integrated with Nike Dri-FIT technology to draw sweat away from the body to keep players cool and dry.

·         Updated and improved ventilation zones consisting of tiny laser-cut holes on both sides and across the entire back of the shirt, as well as at the shorts' waistband allows more air inside the kit for additional comfort and cooling.

FIT AND CONSTRUCTION

·         Nike embarked on an innovative program creating 3D body scans of some of the world’s leading footballers to produce a more athletic fit tailored to the contours of their bodies.

·         It has been crafted with bonded T-bars at the junctions of the shirts to support the seams and inner welded seams with a clean finish to give a more striking appearance while also increasing comfort and performance.

Igesund announces squad for crucial 2014 WC qualifiers

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund has announced a 25-man squad to play in the forthcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia next month.

The first of the two World Cup qualifiers against CAR in Yaoundé, Cameroon will be played on Saturday, 8 June at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo (kick off 15h00) with the second match against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa pencilled for Sunday, 16 June (kick off 15h00 SA time).

Despite Bafana Bafana having been ravaged by injuries to its core players especially in defence, Igesund has kept the nucleus of the squad. He has brought in seven players who were not part of the personnel that faced CAR in Cape Town in March.

Injuries have ruled out defenders Morgan Gould, Siyabonga Sangweni, Siyanda Xulu, and Thabo Matlaba, as well as striker Dino Ndlovu while Daylon Claasen who is not attached to any club is out. Midfielder Lerato Chabangu has also been left out.

Called up to the squad are defenders Tsepo Masilela, Tefo Mashamaite, Siboniso Gaxa (all Kaizer Chiefs), as well as Bevan Fransman of Supersport United.

Also returning to the Bafana Bafana fold after a long absence are Thandani Ntshumayelo and Tlou Segolela (both Orlando Pirates), Richard Henyekane of Mamelodi Sundowns and Katlego Mashego of Moroka Swallows.

The two qualifiers are part of Bafana Bafana’s “Road to Brazil” campaign.

“These are two very important matches for us, and even though we are missing a few players through injuries or loss of form, things are looking very positive. The players I have selected for these matches are highly technical and ready for the challenge. They also know what is at stake. I am quite confident that we will pull through,” said Igesund.

“These are huge encounters for us, and as for the CAR match, the most important thing is that we must not lose this game. If we don’t win then we need to have a draw so we can stay in the race because we still have to meet and hopefully beat Ethiopia the following week who are top of the group with two points ahead.”

The Bafana Bafana mentor believes that even though playing away, he will have to stick to his offensive strategy in order to get positive results.

“We beat CAR convincingly in Cape Town in March, and we want to continue with our attacking game like we did back then and I believe playing in a neutral venue will help in that regard. We have to be offensive if we want to get something out of the match against CAR or we will be putting ourselves in a very tight corner.

“The following week will be key against Ethiopia; of course depending on how they would have played against Botswana,” added Igesund.

Bafana Bafana will meet for camp on 29 May to start preparations for this assignment and will leave for Cameroon on 4 June assemble for camp on Wednesday, 29 May at SAFA House at midday.

Bafana Bafana squad v Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Wayne Sandilands, Senzo Meyiwa

Defenders: Anele Ngcongca, Siboniso Gaxa, Tsepo Masilela, Tebogo Langerman, Erick Mathoho, Thabo Nthethe, Tefu Mashamaite, Bevan Fransman

Midfielders: Thuso Phala, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Dean Furman, May Mahlangu, Tlou Segolela, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Oupa Manyisa, Richard Henyekane, Daine Klate

Strikers: Tokelo Rantie, Bernard Parker, Katlego Mashego

- SAFA

adidas Unveils Energy-Focused Nitrocharge Soccer Boot

Last night adidas unveiled Nitrocharge, a brand new energy-retaining football boot designed for the next generation of footballer that follows the legacy and successes of the existing iconic predator, adipure & f50 ranges.

Nitrocharge is the first new adidas boot silo since the release of the hugely successful f50 range in 2004.  Stars such as Messi, Villa and Benzema have made their names in the f50 and adidas now looks to a new set of world class footballers to rise to the top in the revolutionary Nitrocharge boot.

The visually striking Nitrocharge is an evolution of adidas’ heritage in creating footwear to fit certain player types. The unique positioning of Nitrocharge has energy retention at its heart and has been designed specifically for ‘The Engine’ player, the archetypical footballer who is always first on the team sheet; the player who powers a team, running and tackling more, relentlessly and ferociously seeking chances from box-to-box over 90 minutes.

'The Engine’ is a player adidas has recognised and actively sought to engage with over the last two years. Now, following a partnership with football statisticians Opta, an algorithm has been developed from which player performances can be analysed to determine how well they suit ‘The Engine’ role.

 The Nitrocharge boot realises a range of new technologies that when combined will innovate the way ‘Engines’ play the beautiful game: 

•           The eye catching ENERGYSLING arches over the boot and supports sidecut and turn movements to sharpen reactions on the pitch

•           The sole plate of the boot contains a zig-zagging ENERGYPULSE, inspired by spring technology,  with high-elastic material at its heart, providing premium energy during the off toe phase of sprinting

•           A Protection mesh layer around the foot and Protection pads around the most sensitive tackle zones such as the Achilles tendon also feature in the boot

•           Compatible with the adidas miCoach SPEED_CELL, players can measure on-pitch performance and focus on improvement over time

The boots will be released in a dramatic blue and yellow colour way. The new Nitrocharge boot is available for purchase in South Africa from the 20th May 2013 in blue beauty f10 / running white / electricity and will be worn on-pitch by ‘Engine’ players Daniele De Rossi (A.S. Roma), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint Germain) and Javi Martinez (FC Bayern Munich).

Recommended Retail Price: R799.00 for entry-level and R1, 999.00 for top-end ranges.

Available at: Concept (adidas Performance) stores, football specialists and selected retailers.

For further information please visit adidas.co.za/football or go to facebook.com/adidasfootball or @adidasZA on twitter to join the conversation.

2012/13 Nedbank Cup Final Tickets Sold

The 2012/13 Nedbank Cup Final to be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban has been sold out eight days before the fixture.

This year’s edition of the Nedbank Cup will be contested by reigning Nedbank Cup champions SuperSport and Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, 25 May 2013.

PSL Acting CEO, Cambridge Mokanyane said: “I can confirm that all tickets are sold out for the Nedbank Cup final. If you do not have a ticket, please watch the game on television or listen on radio. We would like to thank everyone who purchased tickets for their support.”

Juventus 2013/14 Nike Home Kit

Italian Champions stick with tradition for 2013-14 home kit.

Juventus Football Club stays true to its roots with a traditional home kit for next season. The sleek fitted jersey features the club's famous black and white stripes, this time in a thinner style reminiscent of the kits Juventus wore during its dominant run in the 1980s.

The shirt has a lowered white V-neck collar — also inspired by the 1980s kits — a black stripe print on the cuffs, and two side vents on the hem with a flash of black. The bold, bonded black tape at the bottom of the V-neck is a nod to Turin, home to Juventus and the industrial capital of Italy.

Inside the neck is a woven label featuring a shield with the club’s founding year of 1897. On the back of the shirt is the familiar black panel unique to Juventus to hold the players’ names and numbers.

The home shorts are black with a printed stripe along each side, while the socks are white with a black block on the back to give players greater visual acuity on the pitch.

The kit showcases Nike’s inherent belief in style, craft and strong aesthetics, while aiding the performance of players with key technological features.

RECYCLED POLYESTER

·         The kit is made from recycled polyester in accord with Nike’s commitment to produce athletic wear with a low environmental impact. The shirt and shorts of each kit are made from up to thirteen recycled plastic water bottles.

·         In the pioneering process plastic bottles are melted down to form yarn that is spun into recycled polyester, reducing energy consumption by up to 30 percent compared to manufacturing virgin polyester.

·         Since 2010, Nike has diverted more than 1.1 billion plastic bottles from landfills through the use of recycled polyester.

FABRIC AND NIKE DRI-FIT

·         The kit is made of fabric weighing just 150 grams, 23 percent lighter than previous Nike kits. It also boasts a 20 percent stronger knit structure and significantly improved stretch.

·         The fabric is integrated with Nike Dri-FIT technology to draw sweat away from the body to keep players cool and dry.

·         Updated and improved ventilation zones consisting of tiny laser-cut holes on both sides and across the entire back of the shirt, as well as at the shorts' waistband allows more air inside the kit for additional comfort and cooling.

FIT AND CONSTRUCTION

·         Nike embarked on an innovative program creating 3D body scans of some of the world’s leading footballers to produce a more athletic fit tailored to the contours of their bodies.

·         It has been crafted with bonded T-bars at the junctions of the shirts to support the seams and inner welded seams with a clean finish to give a more striking appearance while also increasing comfort and performance.

Nominees for the Absa Premiership End of Season Awards

The nominees for the 2012/2013 Absa Premiership Awards have been announced following the judging process today. Below are the names in alphabetic order are:

Absa Premiership Coach of the Season:

Stuart Baxter (Kaizer Chiefs)

Cavin Johnson (Platinum Stars)

Clinton Larsen (Bloemfontein Celtic)

Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season:

Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)

Senzo Meyiwa (Orlando Pirates)

Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)

Absa Premiership Young Player of the Season:

Tshepo Gumede (Platinum Stars)

Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)

Bongani Zungu (University of Pretoria)  

Absa–lutely Awesome Goal:

Mor Diouf (SuperSport United) – v Mamelodi Sundowns, 10 March 2013

Fikru Lemessa (Free State Stars) v Kaizer Chiefs, 16 February 2013

Sifiso Myeni (Orlando Pirates) v Free State, 10 November 2012 

adidas celebrate Lampard Landmark

Today, adidas unveiled a live 3D infographic at Stamford Bridge which brought to life each of Frank Lampard’s 203 club record goals tally.

Research undertaken by adidas allowed each of the 203 goals which Lampard scored in adidas boots, to be plotted on a virtual 3D axis, allowing each goal to be pinpoint placed and showcase exactly where each goal was scored from.

Lampard today walked through his top 10 all-time goals, calling out classic moments such as his first Premier League goal for Chelsea at home to Bolton in 2001 and his record-breaking goal in last weekend’s game against Aston Villa  amongst the stand out goal scoring moments in his career.

The adidas installation is dedicated to Lampard goals and outstanding contribution to the club over the past 12 seasons, a truly iconic celebration of one of the best goalscorers in the world who has gone all in for his club and country over the past decade.

 On Friday 17th May, a short video feature on the making of the installation and Lampard’s own guide to his top ten goals will be released via adidas’ YouTube channel.

To see exclusive content from today’s event and to join the conversation around Lampard’s greatest ever goals follow @adidasUK #superfrank

Puma launches new evoSPEED 1.2

PUMA today introduces the new evoSPEED 1.2 FG, the latest performance boot that helps players maximise their speed on the pitch.  For the first time ever, the boot features the PUMA brand name on the inner side of the boot instead of the formstripe – the brand’s iconic trademark.

This weekend, the new black and fluorescent yellow boot makes its on pitch debut with Sergio Agüero, Radamel Falcao, Olivier Giroud and many more PUMA players.

The new evoSPEED 1.2 FG is designed to enable players reach top speed quickly without sacrificing stability or comfort. This is made possible through the use of light materials in combination with an internal midfoot support cage (EverFit cage) that maintains a good fit during all points of sprinting.

The outsole is reconfigured with smaller conical studs that give the player a better grip on the ground and enhances manoeuvrability on the pitch.  For optimal comfort, a minimised tongue and heel have been added, reducing pressure on the Achilles tendon whilst the sock liner distributes the foot’s pressure evenly.

Inspired by the shape of muscles, tendons and the smooth curves of a race car, the new boot features subtle black glossy graphics that round off the look of the more visible yellow prints. Finishing touches are the transparent dotted print on the vamp for better grip in wet conditions, and small details in fluorescent blue that complement the striking look.

Sergio Agüero commented after testing the finished boot, “I am always excited to wear a new boot.  After the v1.11 and the first evoSPEED, this is the third SPEED boot that I have worn and it is definitely the best.

PUMA’s boots are constantly improving and the innovations they create help me to perform better when I play.  I appreciate the fact that they incorporate my feedback when they develop new boots and I am delighted with this latest result.”