adidas Cafusa – Official Match Ball of the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013

 Zurich, Dec 01: The name and design of the official match ball for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 was unveiled today at the Final Draw show. Three symbols of Brazilian culture; Carnival, Football, and Samba have been combined to create the adidas Cafusa.

Created by the same product team who designed the hugely successful Tango 12, the adidas Cafusa combines proven high performance technology with a locally relevant aesthetic. The name and vibrant colour scheme reflects the national identity with a particular focus on the “Southern Cross” constellation represented in the Brazilian flag.

 “Unveiling the Official Ball of FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 is a big moment for us. Brazilians are passionate about football and we wanted to deliver an inspirational ball for this competition. We are very pleased with the adidas Cafusa, the final product has strong Brazilian elements in place throughout the design,” said Rodrigo Messias, Director of the Project 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

 To showcase the new football to all Brazilians there will be an exhibition of 10 giant balls, each two meters in diameter, which will travel across the country until the end of June 2013. The balls will begin their journey in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro before heading on to the other host cities of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 – Recife, Fortaleza, Salvador, Brasília and Belo Horizonte.

 Alongside this exhibition adidas will also be providing the opportunity for locals to test out the Cafusa alongside the latest version of their adizero f50® football boot – one of the lightest boots on the market at only 165grams per shoe. The boot, designed to make players faster than ever before, will launch across the world in a colour scheme of Vivid Yellow and Green Zest to match the Cafusa and the colours of Brazil. The ball and boots are available now at adidas stores, www.adidas.com, and at www.prosoccer.co.za.

The adidas Cafusa will make its on pitch debut at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan which takes place between December 6th and December 16th.

Technology

Composed by 32 panels, made through a thermal bonding process, which ensures a stable flight, adidas Cafusa has the same technology to the Tango 12 – the ball specially developed for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. All panels are covered with a sticky texture that reinforces the contact of the boot with the ball. adidas Cafusa was subjected to a rigorous testing process and meets and exceeds all FIFA Approved Standards for an official match ball. —- FIFA

The New Gambler Soccer Boot by Warrior - Deal with it!!

Time to take control back.
 

Deal out killer passes with a specially crafted Ace Plate on the instep, and bend balls and rules with deadly accuracy using the High Roller rotator zone. Finally, the embossed Outsider zone located on the boot’s outer tip ensures quick draw precision for shooting, passing and control.

 The lightweight, bold wildcard Tech Mesh outer demands on-pitch attention, and covers the welded Safe House foot cage to provide ultimate style, form and protection whatever the odds.

 The no-stitch Royal Flush inner works alongside the Lay-Off offset lacing system to deliver a perfect fit, a sweet strike and all-game comfort.

 To suit your game, Gambler is equipped to take control on all playing surfaces with two sole plate options: a Full House hybrid stud/blade outsole for mixed ground acceleration and grip, or the Loaded Deck 17 blade outsole for firm ground comfort. 

Gambler. Can you deal with it?
 

 Available soon on prosoccer.co.za

 

Nike Unveils Manchester United Home Kit for 2013-14

Next season, FA Premier League Champions Manchester United will play in a new home kit inspired by elements of the club’s successful history and the city’s industrial heritage. 
The United home shirt features the return of the black collar, worn upturned with such brilliance by Eric Cantona during the club's champion run of the 1990s. 

 
Underneath the collar is a subtle tonal grey-and black-gingham check, first used on last season's home shirt. The check represents Manchester’s industrial past, referencing the city’s cotton mills of the 18th century, which once produced the classic check fabric.
The tailored collar, with three buttons at the front and one at the back, represents the city's sense of style. Two side vents at the hem of the shirt feature the same tonal black-and-grey gingham check that is found under the collar.

 

The new home shorts are white with a thin black stripe on the hem of the back. The home socks are black with a white stripe bound by two red stripes, and the traditional United bar scarf design appears on the back of the sock.

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.
  
  Buy the new Manchester United Home Jersey 2013/14 on www.prosoccer.co.za
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Greek national team head to the pitch in new Nike kit

On June 7, the Greek National football team will play in their first ever Nike kit as they take the pitch against Lithuania. The kit pays homage to the country’s national heritage and features classic football uniform design.

For the first year of the partnership Nike offers home and away kits that feature a signature Greek white-and-blue color palette. The home jersey is classic white with broad blue cuffs and blue V-neck trim, while the away jersey is blue with contrasting white details.  Colored stripes on the shorts and socks correspond with the jersey’s cuffs to create a complete look.

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

The kit is made with lightweight Nike Dri-FIT fabric to draw sweat away from the body to keep players dry and comfortable for 90 minutes and beyond. Ventilation zones consisting of tiny laser-cut holes under the arms allow for additional comfort and cooling. A mesh panel across the entire back increases air circulation.

In line with Nike’s commitment to combining performance with minimized environmental impact, the home and away jerseys are made with recycled polyester. Each jersey is made using an average eight recycled plastic bottles.

Nike Premier: A modern performance take on a classic boot design from the Nike Football archives.

"When we first showed our players the Nike Premier they said to us: 'That looks like a classic from the archive.' When they put it on though, they realized it's far from old-fashioned," said Phil McCartney, Vice-President of Nike Football Footwear, who briefed the Nike Football design team to create a classic-looking boot using the latest technology and performance insights.

"We know from talking to players that fit, touch and traction are the three things that they want from their boots. We define fit as comfort over 90 minutes, with no distractions. For touch, we look to deliver the perfect touch every time regardless of conditions, and with traction, we want to give our players the perfect traction underfoot, on demand. Our goal with the Nike Premier was to deliver those three areas in a boot with a timeless look," added McCartney.
Visually, the inspiration from the boot came from two sources: the iconic 1994 Tiempo Premier, worn by 10 of the players inthat year's World Cup final, and the first shoe to ever carry the Swoosh, a 1971 boot called 'The Nike'.

"We wanted the Premier to have a simple visual design but for it to be bold and, stylistically, carry a lot of Nike Football DNA. There are players out there who want a beautiful black leather boot that delivers a great fit and a ultra-soft touch on the ball. The Premier is for those players."

View Gallery

The Premier uses Nike's most anatomical football last to date, as also seen on the new Hypervenom, which helps place the foot closer to the ball and ground for greater touch. The premium leather used for the upper sets the benchmark for softness and feel for leather-based boots, and the transitional flex in the sole plate provides a firm midfoot combined with a flexible and responsive forefoot. The sole plate's design also provides excellent traction on a variety of surfaces.

"A lot of players will see the Nike Premier and be reminded of the early-to-mid 1990s. When they put the boot on and get out on the pitch, they will soon realize that this is a 21st century product."

The Premier launches in North America on June 1 and will be available elsewhere from July 1. 

Available soon on www.prosoccer.co.za