The Hindu : Sport : Nike's improved jerseys unveiled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

Sport

Sport

Nike's improved jerseys unveiled

S.R. Suryanarayan

WHEN THE STARS SHONE: J.S. Park, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Adriano at the launch of Nike's new jerseys in Berlin on Monday.

BERLIN: Some of the world's top soccer players assembled at the historic Olympic Stadium here on Monday. The occasion was the launch of technologically improved team jerseys by sports goods manufacturer Nike.

Soccer greats Adriano (Brazil), Luis Figo (Portugal), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland), Damarcus Beasley (USA), J.S. Park (South Korea), Jared Borgetti (Mexico), Marco Bresciano (Australia) and Dado Prso (Croatia) were among those who were present here. Each of them are getting ready to don their National colours in the impending World Cup, and for a while the on-field rivalry took the backstage as they participated in Nike's yet another technological step forward.

For Indian football

"It is a kind of jersey which adds to the comfort of the player and reduces the amount of shirt clings on to the body," said a press release of the company. Something more. "The jerseys reflect each country's National identity within the design", said Peter Hudson, global creative director (football).

Interestingly India is one of the 14 countries that Nike supports and has designed new jerseys for (of which eight represented by the players on the stage are in the World Cup final round). India is the recent addition, and it is hoped that the association would be fruitful for Indian football.

As the eight players came on the stage in their sparkling new attire, after Trevor Edwards (Nike's vice-president, Global Brand Management) and Hudson had provided the prelude to the day's programme, the attention was on Adriano, the dashing soccer magician from Brazil.

As the photographers and video cameramen feasted on the players, there came a few words from the stars with Adriano being the softest among all. More than 200 journalists from various countries were present on the occasion.

`Hoping for success'

"Hoping for success", said Adriano when asked about Brazil's plans after annexing five World Cups earlier, and that aptly summed up the mood of the others too.

From the stage it was on to the turf, as the stars descended on the floodlit arena in freezing weather conditions, and each of them caressed the football. With sheets of snow around the arena, the ambience may not have looked charged but in this football-loving land, which is awaiting the World Cup 2006 to happen, it was a really moments of soccer to cherish.

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