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Despite not being at Afcon, Bafana Bafana fans have reason to get excited this month.  PUMA, the official sponsor of Bafana Bafana, will stock selected stores with the national teams new fan wear merchandise on 15 February. Fans can buy the South Africa Away Shirt for R599 and the South Africa Anthem Jacket for R999, and can also purchase a range of other fan wear from selected retailers.

The new kits are designed to maximise player’s performance. The jersey fits the body closely to avoid grabbing from the opponent and to enable players to exhibit their physical presence on the pitch. The fabric features PUMA’s U.S.P Moisture Management technology, which enhances airflow and body performance by dragging moisture away from the body and keeps the body at the ultimate performance temperature.

Throughout the month of February, www.puma.com/football is digging deep into the French international’s mind, to get some answers to the questions that so many fans are eager to hear. Every weekday on www.puma.com/football, video interviews will explore what really makes the French legend tick, how it feels to return to the London club where he made his name as a world class footballer and why he is so adverse to Tomato Ketchup!

Different interviews will run each day from the 1^st February and continue throughout the month. Check www.puma.com/football for your daily dose of Thierry Henry.

Along with the standard synthetic and K leather versions, Puma have released the V1.11 SL in their striking new Dresden Blue/Lime/White colourway.

Few pros wear the V1.11 SL despite being one of the lightest boots on the market. A super-soft and ultra-thin microfiber synthetic upper features unique padded zones for improved ball contact. The V1.11SL’s redesigned upper provides great comfort and ball feel as well more protection than the V1.10 SL.

The unique outsole’s stability, durability and support is enhanced by the revolutionary engineered Thermoplastic outsole. The Pebax material offers outstanding mechanical, physical and chemical properties, by bridging the gap between thermoplastics and rubbers. Carbon fibre in the outsole adds mid-foot stability while the external heel counter is shaped and bonded to the upper adds strength and stability.

The new Dresden Blue/Lime/White colourway Puma V1.11 SL is now available for order however will not be available in South Africa.

PUMA has launched the new Black/Shadow/White/Lime colourway of the PowerCat 1.12, a performance boot featuring the most advanced PUMA technologies. The new PowerCat 1.12 colourway was worn by Michael Carrick and Tomas Rosicky over the weekend and will be worn by fellow PUMA stars including Cesc Fabregas, Phil Jones and Nigel de Jong.

Designed for power players, the boot is a perfect combination of engineering and comfort, giving players the confidence to perform on pitch. The PowerCat 1.12 features the new PUMA 3D DUO Power Shooting Technology, applied to the kicking area on the inside of the boot.

Made from an innovative thermoplastic material with two different degrees of hardness, the newly created PUMA 3D PST DUO technology enables improved grip on the ball through its exposed elements, and instead of absorbing the energy it increases the kicking power of the player.  The kicking area employs a soft K-Leather while the lightweight microfiber material in the lateral quarter supports the midfoot and helps to keep the weight of the boot to a minimum.

The PUMA PowerLast, an evolution of the PUMA AptoLast, follows the foot’s natural contours, providing a glove like fit allowing the upper to mould to players fit. Coupled with the stable yet flexible outsole, the PowerCat 1.12 gives the best possible comfort. Optimal support, stability and protection are provided by the asymmetrical external TPU-injected heel counter.

The new Black/Shadow/White/Lime PowerCat 1.12 boots will retail for R1 999 in South Africa and will be in stores from February 2012.

Weighing 225g the King SL is not the lightest leather boot (compared to the AdiPure 11Pro) on the market however do beat out the likes of Nike’s Tiempo IV Elite. The SL is based on the King Finale but features a thin premium K-Leather upper which is very lightweight and shapes perfectly to the foot for the same glove-like fit and ball feel you’d expect from the King Finale.

The heel counter has been stripped to reduce weight while the TPU injected outsole from the King Finale remains. The iconic fold over tongue has bee redesigned and the form-stripe is now an integrated feature of the light K-Leather upper instead of being another overlay of stitched material.

Thierry Henry and fellow Gunner Mikel Arteta have already worn the new Puma King Finale SL in this launch White/Navy/Team Orange colourway which is available now to order.

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.

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.’

Having seen their V1.11 and more recently the new Powercat 1.12 grabbing all the attention, Puma now shine the spotlight on their King Finale boots with the release of their newest colourway – White/Team Orange/Dark Navy. The Puma King is the oldest boot silo and has been one of the great performers within the game of football, despite their continuous re-invention.

The current incarnation, the King Finale, boasts a soft and comfortable K leather upper for enhanced ball feel. Puma’s AptoLast conforms to the natural shape of the foot, providing a snug super-comfortable fit while the outsole of the boot is made from a lightweight high performance thermoplastic elastomeric material. The King Finale also features reinforced tight-row vamp stitching to prolong the longevity of the boots performance and for better overall shape retention.

The redesigned traditional tongue provides a cleaner kicking area and improved pressure distribution upon ball impact and fits securely in place courtesy of an integrated Velcro fastening. A high density heel counter is integrated into it’s construction, which offers protection and crucially stability, while the leather heel tap increases comfort and reduces pressure on the Achilles tendon. A memory foam insert in the anatomically shaped sock-liner sits under the heel and offers further cushioning and improved shock absorption.

We think this new colourway is a great addition to the King Finale line up and will look great on the feet of likes of Wolves striker Kevin Doyle.

The new Italian Football home kit takes its inspiration from one of the world’s most powerful teams, and is designed for the most powerful of performances.  The shirt boasts four stars, representing the four FIFA World Cup victories the Azzurri have enjoyed in their history, the official FIGC badge and a classic vintage styling.  The slim fit shirt has a 3D graphic embossed print and a welded patch pocket. The 4-way stretch underarm panel, cuffs, and back mesh enhance freedom of movement, fashioned after on-pitch player jerseys. Finally, the flat knit rib collar with contrast tipping and tonal bottomless placket add a bit of retro styling to this modern, fast-forward design. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, the collar has been personalized with the “tricolore”, the three colours of the Italian flag.

A full range of replica shirt, shorts and socks were also launched worldwide today, along with a merchandise collection.  For the first time, PUMA has included a QR code woven label in the home replica shirt, which when scanned takes people on a special journey through the history of the Italian national team, exclusively on www.puma.com/football.

“Materials, design and graphics change day by day, but the charm of the Italian shirt remains the best expression in the world of football”, said Antonello Valentini, General Director of FIGC. “This new shirt represents the long partnership between PUMA and FIGC, emphasising the common values our brands share, as well as the importance of style and traditions.  It represents a new step in our relationship, not only in a commercial sense, but as the expression of a new vision to encourage charity initiatives, and in particular to promote the Italian national team as the ultimate expression of Italian Football”.

Gianluigi Buffon, Italian National Football Team Captain said, “Modern football is such a powerful game, the performance of playing kits is very important, and we are very happy with the new kit that PUMA has created for Italy.  It is a great looking kit – we are a proud nation, and the design is also very important to us.  In my long international playing career, I can certainly say this is the best kit I have worn for the Azzurri.”

Stefano Caroti, Chief Commercial Officer of PUMA SE commented, “We are very pleased with both the design and performance innovations that have been integrated into the new Italy home kit.  Italy is one of our leading Power assets in world football, and we have worked hard with the FIGC to deliver a playing kit and replica wear that meets the high standards we set ourselves.  We hope the Azzurri go on to achieve great things in it in Poland and Ukraine next year.”

PUMA has partnered with the FIGC for eight years, a period that saw the Italian National Team win the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

A wardrobe essential for the bona fide Azzurri fan, the Italy Home Replica Short features an official FIGC badge and sporty styling. The gusset increases freedom of movement, complemented by the side leg panels. And for the finishing patriotic team touches, the tonal waistband panel features Italian flag-colored stitching and an embroidered ‘Italia’ script on the belt.

A match-day essential for the bona fide Azzurri fan, the Italy Home Replica Socks feature a sporty styling. The socks have tonal mesh panels, Italian flag-colored tipping on the reverse, and ‘Italia’ wording on the front.

Along with the new kit Puma have launched a a great new campagn called ‘More Than Football’. As the second most successful team in the world with four World Cup wins in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 the Italy kit possesses a legacy that goes beyond most teams. In a football fanatic country it is the azure blue kit that brings Italians from all over the world together under the common love for their beloved national team. For Italians the Azzurri blue is more than just a color. For Italians the Gli Azzurri kit is so much more than football.