PUMA SHARE THE LOVE ON VALENTINE’S DAY
PUMA, the Official Supporter of Men’s Declaration of Love to their Beloveds
Following its Valentine’s Day success with the Hardchorus campaign in 2010 PUMA introduces ‘PUMA share the love’ campaign to help the true football fans share their love with their beloved ones. Once again PUMA helps all the football fans to cope with the problem that occurs every year on February 14. How not to miss the game and still make a grand gesture on Valentine’s Day, so she feels like she’s your number one.
PUMA knows that men can do anything when it comes to declaring their love for their favorite football club – they always find the words. It is so easy to say it to your team and it is so hard to say it to your girl. Look no further. Pumasharethelove.com gives your girl her own fan site, complete with a video professing your love.
The mechanic is simple. Upload your girl’s picture and type in her name and yours and presto you have an entire fan page complete with an anthem dedicated to her. Go ahead share the love!
Love football and each other! Make this Valentine’s Day special and share your love at Pumasharethelove.com!
YAYA TOURE PUMA AFRICAN FOOTBALL STORY; PART 4
Having scored possibly the goal of the tournament against Equitorial Guinea, Ivory Coast and Manchester City star Yaya Toure now, along with his fellow Mighty Elephant teammates, turns his attention to the African Cup of Nations Final against Zambia.
Ahead of Sunday’s Final showpiece, Puma caught up with one of their star athletes to talk about the Ivory Coast national side and playing for them.
What’s the spirit like when all the players get together from different countries and are back playing for the Ivory Coast?
It’s unbelievable, because a long time ago many of us played together. Gervinho, me, Salomon Kalou, Emmanuel Eboue; a lot of players played together in the same academy. When we come back together for the national team, it’s always amazing, always unbelievable, we always enjoy it. We always sit around the table and talk about the old days, when we were young.
Who’s the joker, who does everyone take the mickey out of and what’s your role in the team off the pitch?
We’ve got a lot of fantastic guys. We love Eboue, because he’s always fun. But all the guys are good guys, fun guys. We have some experienced people in the team, but if you look at Gervinho, Tiote, they are all young. They are all good guys. It’s coming, but they need help. Drogba, Kolo, me, Zokora: we’ve been in the national team a long time. I think, for me, this is my eighth year. For my brother it’s 10 or 12 years. For Drogba it’s the same. We’ve been there for a long time. And when the young lads come, we try to help them.
Are there any particular games you play to help you relax during matches?
Table tennis, we play that and we play Playstation together, any game like that. Or we play cards, watch TV and watch football games. Anything to make us relax.
Who’s the table tennis king?
We’ve got a lot. Drogba is a fantastic player. Eboue plays well too and my brother.
Any songs you sing on the team bus. Who leads those songs?
Eboue’s got a lot of songs. He sings very well. He’s a fantastic guy. He’s always smiling – a very good guy for us.
What do you think of the new Ivory Coast shirt, designed by the artist Ernest Dükü?
Yes, it’s fantastic, Ernest is unbelievable. I love it.
What do the elephants, as an icon, represent, to yourself and Ivorians?
Elephants are very important to my country. This logo, elephants, means we are strong together and work hard to go through. Elephants are massive animals, very strong and powerful. When we go to competitions, we have to do something, we have to do everything to go through, and work hard, and be strong like an elephant. And for my country, elephant is such an important symbol … This logo represents everything in my country.
To follow Yaya Touré’s full African football story visit puma.com/football
PUMA BAFANA BAFANA AWAY KIT AND ANTHEM JACKET
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.
PUMA MAKE FEBRUARY THIERRY HENRY MONTH
February is Thierry Henry month on puma.com, with a series of video interviews that provide an exclusive look into his world.
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 1st February and continue throughout the month. Check www.puma.com/football for your daily dose of Thierry Henry.
PUMA V1.11 SL – DRESDEN BLUE/WHITE/LIME PUNCH
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 POWERCAT 1.12 – BLACK/SHADOW/WHITE/LIME
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.
PUMA KING FINALE SL – WHITE/NAVY/TEAM ORANGE
Having already made their on field debut, Puma have now officially unveiled the King Finale SL. Described by Thierry Henry as the best boots he’s ever worn, the new King Finale SL have created a massive amount of hype and first impressions seem to imply they will deliver.
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.
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.
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.’
PUMA KING FINALE – WHITE/TEAM ORANGE/DARK NAVY
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.