RECENT RELEASES
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PUMA V1.11 – DRESDEN BLUE/WHITE/LIME PUNCH
Tonight sees Liverpool host Premier League log leaders Manchester City in the Carling Cup holding a 1-0 lead. It is the perfect opportunity for City star Sergio Aguero to show off the new Dresden Blue/White/Lime Punch Puma V1.11 colourway.
We got to see a very quick glimpse at the new colourway over the weekend as South African skipper Steven Pienaar gave the new colourway a Premier League debut. This new colourway will be the first time Aguero has worn anything other the launch Green/Navy colourway since signing with the German giants.
The V1.11 is a genuine competitor in the speed boot market. The upper is stitched rather than glued to the soleplate using special UNI technology which provides the perfect fit by replicating the unique PUMA Aptolast. Super soft premium lightweight microfiber upper material, which features central lacing, ensure a snug fit and provides a smooth kicking area, superb ball touch and a unique look. A carbon fiber composite in the forefoot helps provide optimal pressure distribution, reactivity and flexibility.
Greater playing stability is provided through an external heel counter and a Pebax frame that provides support to the outsole. The midfoot area is reinforced with a TPU composite which secures further stability and helps to avoid midfoot bending. This increased stability also enables an optimal traction as well as manoeuvrability, provided through the pointed stud configuration featured on this new boot.
We can look forward to seeing the new Dresden Blue/White/Lime Punch colourway – which will be available in the SL version as well - tonight after Aguero was spotted training in them with the rest of his Manchester City teammates this afternoon.
FIFA STREET TO LAUNCH WITH IN-GAME SOCIAL NETWORK
Praised by critics like IGN.com as “spectacular to watch and play,” FIFA Street is the most authentic street football game ever made. From the creators of the award-winning EA SPORTS FIFA franchise, and powered by the revolutionary FIFA gameplay engine, FIFA Street delivers an arsenal of authentic street dribbling styles and trick moves that ignite the one-on-one battles. Utilize the groundbreaking new Street Ball Control to experience the highest fidelity of touch on the ball and responsiveness ever developed by the FIFA franchise. Compete everywhere from parking lots to prestigious 5v5 futsal-style tournaments on the streets of the world’s most renowned cities. Play with and against the stars of the most popular clubs in the world—or real-life street players—and compete at more than 35 locations in the world.
Now EA SPORTS™ have announced a new feature in FIFA Street called the Street Network* that will encourage social competition among players when the game launches at retail stores (in South Africa on March 16, 2012) for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system. Through the Street Network, players will be able to capture video of their best tricks and share them in-game with friends, showing off their personal favorites and embarrassing their opponents. In addition, friends will be able to track and compare each other’s progress throughout the game, including World Tour story mode and Head-to-Head Online Seasons, and follow each other’s status in EA SPORTS Football Club.
“Street football is all about the one-on-one battle, when you pull off a trick to roast your opponent,” said producer Sid Misra. “The Street Network brings that real-world swagger into the game by enabling players to capture video of those moments and share them with everyone in their street network to see, and providing friends with a way to compare each other throughout the game.”
The Street Network will enrich the World Tour story mode, where gamers create a team of friends and compete in a connected world against other FIFA Street gamers’ teams. Players will be able to follow each other’s status as they build their squads, unlock new tricks, and progress through the story of their journey to street football glory. Players will be able to share and compare progress with friends directly in the Street Network and it will also broadcast in-game videos like “Goals of the Week”, and alert friends to each other’s accomplishments throughout the game.
Featuring Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi on the cover, fans who pre-order FIFA Street from leading retailers around the world will receive exclusive in-game access to an adidas™ all-star team featuring Messi and 12 of the greatest footballers in the world. The pre-order offer also includes exclusive access to the Lionel Messi Barcelona venue, an environment inspired by street footballers playing in and around the Plaça de Catalunya in the historic center of Barcelona, that Messi helped design. Fans with EA SPORTS Season Ticket will get full-game digital access to FIFA Street three days in advance of launch.
For the latest news on FIFA Street join almost seven million fans in the EA SPORTS FIFA community at http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/easportsfifa. For more information you can also visit: http://www.ea.com/uk/football/fifa-street.
ADIDAS PREDATOR ADIPOWER – SLIME/NAVY/WHITE
Adidas’ AdiPower Predator has been a resounding success since its launch last year. Now Adidas unveil their latest (10th including two David Beckham’s colourways) colour combination – Slime/Navy/White.
The AdiPower Predator features a Taurus calf leather upper with a new re-engineered silicon rubber Predator Element is split into two zones. The first zone is an aggressive, structured surface which integrates the Adidas stripes is the ‘Power Zone’. The 3D fins give rebound upon ball impact, generating additional striking power from the boot. The second ‘Swerve Zone’ features a hexagonal pattern. The even and soft surface provides a longer contact time with the ball, resulting in higher friction and ultimately higher swerve.
Adidas’ groundbreaking SprintFrame outsole features a redesigned Predator PowerSpine from the Predator X. This allows additional energy transfer directly from the foot into the ball by preventing the foot from over bending while still allowing for comfortable running movements thanks to the flex grooves which keep the element highly flexible in the right direction.
Adidas like to use new colours across their silos. We saw their ‘Warning’ and ‘Electricity’ colours being used extensively and it seems that ‘Slime’ – making its Predator debut – has joined the bright colour revolution.
ADIDAS ADIZERO MICOACH – WHITE/BLACK/RED
Adidas have a knack of releasing great looking alternate colourways which deserve to be seen on pitches around the world but are scheduled to receive no official on field support. And we think they have done it again with the release of this White/Black/Red AdiZero MiCoach colourway.
The adiZero F50 boot includes a built in cavity within the outsole which houses the revolutionary miCoach Sensor (Data Capture Chip) -a technology which enables both professional and amateur footballers to analyze their personal speed, distance and work rate during a game.
The adiZero F50 miCoach features technologies such as Adidas’ Sprintweb which provides stability during high speed movements. The lightweight Sprintskin upper is a revolutionary single layer synthetic which provides incredible ball-feeling and reduced weight. Adidas groundbreaking Sprintframe uses geometrics and new stud construction to offer the perfect balance between lightweight and stability. All of this while still weighing just 175 grams.
The miCoach Sensor captures 360 degrees movement and measures key performance metrics including speed, average speed (recorded every second), maximum speed (recorded every five seconds), number of sprints, distance covered, distance at high intensity levels as well as steps and stride rates. The on-board memory stores up to seven hours of all measurements during your game or training and then wirelessly transmits the on pitch performance data to your tablet, PC or MAC.
NIKE’S NEW GENERATION OF AFRICAN FOOTBALLERS TO INSPIRE A CONTINENT
Nike have unveiled a new short film featuring four of the African continents brightest talents, who represent the future, and who are a new generation of African footballers who aim to lead the African football revolution.
The African Cup of Nations kicked off in earnest this past weekend as sixteen countries began the quest for glory, to be crowned the Champions of Africa. Ivory Coast and Arsenal’s mercurial winger Gervinho, Queens Park Rangers and Moroccan dribbling sensation Adel Taarabt, Ghanaian powerhouse midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah who plies his trade in Italy with Udinese and Marseille’s Andre Ayew, also of Ghana, are aiming to make history.
These four footballers are all household names. They are no strangers to football fans from around the world. We watch them produce the goods week in, week out at the highest level of European football. They dominate the headlines in England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A and France’s Ligue 1 but it’s about more than that. For too long African football has remained in the shadows. It’s time that the continent becomes the force that it is capable of becoming. It’s about Africa.
Africa has produced wonderfully talented footballers who have forged amazing careers in the game, and now it’s time for the new generation of footballers to claim victory.
Nike will stand behind their players Gervinho, Taraabt, Asamoah and Ayew as they represent a new African footballer, an African footballer that is tired of celebrating mediocrity and done with being average. With a new focus, drive and determination these players are ready to inspire a continent and ready to claim glory for their country, a relentless pursuit of victory.
Africa can dream… It’s the end of hope, the beginning of belief and the new generation are determined to deliver.
PUMA ANNOUNCES PALERMO PARTNERSHIP
PUMA and US Città di Palermo, one of the most representative football clubs in the Italian Soccer panorama, today announced a long-term partnership and licensed contract. PUMA will be responsible for the development of all official performance playing kit, as well as training and leisure apparel of the senior and youth teams, starting from 2012/2013 football season. In addition, PUMA will also acquire the master license for the brand U.S. Città di Palermo.
Andrea Rogg, General Manager of PUMA Italy, said: “We are extremely pleased to have this new partnership with Palermo Football Club. It is a prestigious team, that in addition to its strong heritage in Italian football, share the same values, excitement and love for sport like PUMA.”
Rinaldo Sagramola, Palermo Football Club CEO confirmed the new agreement by saying, “We are proud to be entering into this partnership with PUMA, and look forward to working with them from the 2012/13 season. PUMA has great credibility in the development of high quality performance football apparel and the sales and distribution of licensed products. This new partnership is one that will significantly benefit Palermo for years to come.”
The new Palermo Club Football Kit will be launched by PUMA in advance of the 2012/13 football season.
BOOT SPOTTING 21-22 JANUARY
The weekend was dominated by Sunday’s two North London v Manchester games as Manchester City welcomed Tottenham Hotspur while Manchester United travelled to Arsenal. Saturday however produced equally entertaining football – as it did boot spots.
We keep expecting to spot Umbro’s main men to make the switch to the new Speciali 3. However it looks like we will have to wait at least one more week before we see them in the Premier League after the likes of John Terry and Aston Villa’s Darren Bent remained in Speciali R boots.
Despite the new Speciali not making it onto pitches yet, the new Umbro colourway are doing very well. Sunderland’s Connor Wickham this week joined Kyle Walker in the new Silver/Red GT II Pro colourway – which looked pretty good with his Black Cats kit.
Another great looking colourway is the new White/Red/Kingfisher Geometra Pro colourway Jordan Henderson has been wearing. Unfortunately Henderson was unable to help his side avoid a surprise defeat to Bolton Wanderers which put a major dent in their Top 4 chances.
Along with the Umbro Speciali we are awaiting the new Adidas AdiPure 11Pro. Gareth Barry gave them their Premier League debut last Monday but likes of Frank Lampard are yet to switch to the new AdiPure. We don’t know whether or not it is a personal preference or not but we would have thought the Chelsea man would have been one of the first to make the switch.
Boot spot favourite Hugo Rodallega once again came out in a bespoke pair of Nike Superfly II boots. We have seen Rodallega wearing this custom pair before when he wore them against West Ham United last May.
Hatem Ben Arfa is quickly becoming a boot spot favourite. Last week Hatem wore a pair of AdiZero I boots having previously worn Nike Superfly IIIs. This week however the Newcastle winger wore the new Adidas AdiZero MiCoach football boots and seemed to take an instant liking to them.
One player who doesn’t seem to be the biggest fan of the new MiCoach AdiZero is Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe. It took Defoe a while to switch to them and has been in and out of them since. This weekend he started with the Black/Warning MiCoach but switched at halftime to his old Blue/Slime AdiZero Prime boots.
Darren Gibson made his Premier League debut for Everton this weekend after his switch from Manchester United. The Republic of Ireland midfielder will be looking to impress both David Moyes and international coach Giovanni Trapattoni. Gibson made his debut wearing Nike’s White/Silver/Purple CTR360 Maestri II colourway.
A Nike colourway that seems to be gaining a rapid following is the Dark Shadow/Volt colourway of their CTR360 Maestri II. West Brom stopper Ben Foster joined the likes of Balotelli and Huth in wearing the alternate colourway.
Arguably one of the best players of the weekend was Arsenal starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The young winger impressed so much that the Gunner’s faithful booed Wenger (even Robin van Persie looked shocked) when he substituted Alex in the second half. Oxlade wore Nike’s Blue/White/blue CTR360 Maestri II football boots complete with his #MAKEITCOUNT personalization.
PUMA.COM OFFERS UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO AFRICAN FOOTBALL
PUMA today launched an African Football content programme ahead of the Orange African Cup of Nations® tournament that kicks off this weekend in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The programme will give a unique cultural insight into the world of African football through the eyes of high profile PUMA partnered players.
Interviews with PUMA players participating in the tournament will run each day on www.puma.com/football, including Asamoah Gyan of Ghana, Yaya Touré of Ivory Coast, Kadar Mangane of Senegal, Didier Ovono of Gabon and Jonathan Pitroipa of Burkina Faso. These interviews will give viewers an insight into African football through the experiences of the players, both past and present.
Through a series of interlinking themes, the content will give viewers a unique perspective into what African Football is really about, what is so special about the African Cup of Nations, how it feels for a star African player to return to their home continent and the atmosphere and experience you can expect in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea this year.
Follow the African Football story of Gyan, Touré, Gabon, Mangane and Pitriopa and experience the tournament as it progresses on www.puma.com/football. The new programme kicks off with Manchester City star Yaya Toure of Cote D’Ivoire. Check out ‘The African Football Interview, Part 1/5: Growing Up.’
NIKE UNVEIL NIKE+ FUELBAND
Nike today unveil the FuelBand. President & CEO Mark Parker unveiled the NIKE+ FuelBand at an event in New York attended by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, Oklahoma City scoring champion and all-star Kevin Durant and 2011 IAAF women’s 100-meter World Champion Carmelita Jeter.
Athletes at all levels of fitness — from the elite to the everyday — now have a way to measure progress toward their goals and compare with others: the NIKE+ FuelBand. It’s an innovative wristband that tracks movement throughout the day, designed to motivate and inspire users to be more active.
“The NIKE+ FuelBand is a way for Nike to further evolve the exciting possibilities of merging the physical and digital worlds,” said NIKE, Inc. President & CEO Mark Parker at the NIKE+ FuelBand launch event in New York. “Nike has always been about inspiring athletes, and the NIKE+ FuelBand will help motivate them in a simple, fun and intuitive way.”
NikeFuel: A new metric to measure movement
The ergonomic NIKE+ FuelBand captures and displays four different metrics: time, calories, steps and NikeFuel – a new metric that will be the ultimate measure of your athletic activity. NikeFuel is a proprietary technology that measures your activity through the movement of your wrist. NikeFuel motivates athletes to do more with a NikeFuel score that makes movement fun, meaningful and comparable, letting you compete with athletes of all levels in most activities. The more you move, the more NikeFuel you earn, whether you’re playing basketball, throwing a Frisbee or going for a run.
Nike worked with some of the world’s top experts in science and sports to engineer NikeFuel algorithms based on oxygen kinetics. Unlike calorie counts — which vary based on someone’s gender and body type — NikeFuel is a normalized score that awards all participants equal scoring for the same activity regardless of their physical makeup. A user can also choose to also receive a calorie count to understand how many calories are burned versus how much NikeFuel is earned.
How the NIKE+ FuelBand makes it count
As you wear the FuelBand throughout the day, the built-in three-axis accelerometer measures your motion and translates it into NikeFuel. Each day you can set your goal for activity and the level of NikeFuel you want to achieve. As you move closer to your goal, the band’s series of 20 LED lights go from red to green. The user-friendly interface provides encouragement and motivation as you hit and exceed your goals.
The NIKE+ FuelBand experience doesn’t end on your wrist. All of the data you capture on your wristband connects to a rich web and mobile experience. It syncs with the Nike+ website, through a built-in USB, or wirelessly through Bluetooth to a free iPhone app to record activity each day and track progress.
The NIKE+ FuelBand is available for preorder at Nikestore.com for a suggested retail price of $149 (U.S.).
To use Nike+ FuelBand, the following is needed:
- A Macintosh or PC with built-in USB. Mac OS v 10.4 or later, Windows 7 or Windows Vista (SP2) or Windows XP (SP2).
- Internet access. Broadband is recommended.
- Optional mobile app available in the iTunes App store; for updates on compatible mobile devices, visit Nikeplus.com.