THE FINAL THIRD

Nike today unveils an action-packed film that brings together some of the world’s greatest players to inspire football lovers and sports fans around the world. The epic three-minute “Write the Future” film takes people on a journey that dramatically captures that one moment when headlines are written from a single pass, or one strike can bring a nation eternal happiness, while bringing others to their knees.

Some of the world’s best players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Fabio Cannavaro, Franck Ribery, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Patrice Evra, Gerard Pique, Ronaldinho, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Thiago Silva, are featured. Special guest cameos are made by tennis legend Roger Federer and basketball superstar Kobe Bryant. Homer Simpson completes the star-studded cast of appearances. The film will be shown on TV for the first time on May 22nd during the European Club Final.

Directed by renowned Hollywood director and producer Alejandro G. Iñarritu (21 Grams, Babel), this epic football journey unfolds through a match of goal line clearances, game-winning tackles and lightning footwork that literally send a ripple effect across the world.

Football fans around the world will be able to experience the full three-minute film online at nikefootball.com from May 20th at 6pm GMT before it rolls out through global partnerships with Facebook, YouTube and QQ.com on Saturday the 22nd. The spot will then air across 32 countries, sharing the campaign with millions of fans around the world on May 22nd.

This marks the first stage of a journey that will ultimately see fans around the world write their own future through experiences that put them at the center of the action. In June, fans will be able to live like their heroes through a unique experience on nikefootball.com that generates ripple videos and visuals from their own photos and information, placing them at the center stage.

Footballers can then use this creative to build their own Facebook campaign to get noticed and selected for “The Chance” – an elite Nike Academy football camp in partnership with the Barclays Premier League in England that allows players to get scouted and get noticed at the highest level of the game.

“This epic campaign really captures the scale, emotion and impact that one single moment in a football game can have on a player, fan or nation,” said Davide Grasso, NIKE, Vice President of Global Football Marketing. “This is just the beginning of the journey. The next stage allows everyone who loves football to engage and interact in an incredible way.”

The story starts when the viewer is drawn into the heat of battle on the pitch as a ball drops from the air into the path of Didier Drogba. As the world holds its collective breath, Drogba picks his way through sliding defenders and expertly chips the goalkeeper – wild celebrations commence across Africa. But they are curtailed at the last second as Fabio Cannavaro makes a stunning overhead goal line clearance. This game-changing moment propels Cannavaro to pop culture icon complete with television chat show appearances and a song dedicated to his moment of brilliance.

Other global football stars including Wayne Rooney experience how a moment on the pitch can last forever. In one scene, the England striker sees an intercepted pass picked up by midfielder Franck Ribery. The ensuing impact brings a nation to its knees and leaves us to imagine Rooney’s destroyed career and his life as a groundsman, living in a caravan, with Ribery’s image looming large above him on a giant billboard. Fast forward, and Rooney relives the moment, sprints after Ribery and wins the ball back. Personal and national pride restored, we see him receiving a knighthood, with headline-grabbing plaudits, a maternity room full of little Waynes and an effortless table-tennis defeat of Roger Federer. The Rooney ripple effect comes full circle.

Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo is fouled in a game, and as he prepares to take a vital free-kick for Portugal, we flash forward to see the ripple effect if he scores; a stadium named in his honour and a Film Premiere for a movie of his life.

“Every touch you have in a game has the ability to change the entire course of not just those 90 minutes, but your entire tournament or season,” said Cristiano Ronaldo. “One touch of the ball can be an opportunity to leave your mark on the game and write your own future, or equally a moment missed, that creates a legacy for your opponent with their fans.”

Also unveiled is Nike’s supercharged Elite Series football boots providing new levels of performance for players during the tournament. Nike’s Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II, CTR360 Maestri, Total90 Laser III and Tiempo Legend III all feature a new performance upper to improve on-field visibility and a reengineered outsole to deliver lightweight performance for every style of player. The Elite Series is available to players at all levels and also incorporates Nike Football+, which features exclusive insider access to the world’s best coaches, players and teams for total game improvement.

To see the Nike “Write the Future” campaign first, fans can sign up at Nike Facebook and nikefootball.com starting at 6pm GMT today.

All four Elite Series boots to be worn by Nike players in South Africa, the Nike Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II, Nike CTR360 Maestri, Nike Total90 Laser III and Nike Tiempo Legend III, are available at retail and at www.nikestore.com as of May 22, 2010.

Inspired by the heat of the African sun, the vast skies and the continent’s rich soil, the PUMA Africa Unity Replica Jersey is a takedown version of a revolutionary new football jersey and the world’s first ‘continental football kit’. Designed to be worn by PUMA’s African football national teams and by some of the continent’s best players — Samuel Eto’o, Emmanuel Eboué and John Mensah.

Its unique colorway is bespoke. The brown pantone was created by mixing actual soil samples from Ghana, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Cameroon. The colour gradient transitions from brown to blue is a visual metaphor for soil to sky. All of the applications—the number and the badge— are cast in yellow representing the sun shining down on Africa.

The replica jerseys come pre-printed with ‘Africa 10’ on the back in the position where players’ names and numbers would otherwise be found. The replica jersey also features the Africa Unity Badge depicting two hands locked in a solidarity handshake.

PUMA Lacelets bring a new twist to traditional shoelaces. With our unique lacing kits, PUMA shows you how to lace and weave the Lacelets to create belts, bracelets, rings and yes, even shoelaces.

Not only do the Lacelets add a new twist to wardrobes everywhere, they also help a global cause. A portion of the profits from the PUMA Lacelets will fund The United Nations Environment Programme’s Year of Biodiversity and its associated programmes.

The Lacelets feature intricate patterns by artist Kehinde Wiley; a special Unity Lacelet has also been designed to coincide with PUMA’s Africa Unity Kit and the brand’s message of a United Africa.

Sepp Blatter is doing some serious good these days. Togo will return to the African Cup of Nations through a peace deal brokered by Fifa president Sepp Blatter in Zurich on Friday.
Blatter persuaded African Football Confederation officials to withdraw a two-tournament ban they imposed on Togo after it left the 2010 finals following an attack on the team bus by Angolan gunmen.

The Togolese Football Federation had filed an appeal against this decision by the CAF with CAS, and both parties had agreed to meet under the mediation of the Fifa president.

According to the agreement, CAF president Issa Hayatou agreed to ask his executive committee to lift the sanction excluding the Togo from the next two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. Togo in turn agreed that it had not communicated to CAF the withdrawal of its team from the Africa Cup of Nations Angola 2010 in accordance with the competition regulations.

Togo also acknowledged that the CAF executive committee had taken its decision of 30 January in application of the relevant regulations.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to find a solution which is satisfactory for both parties. Today marks a victory for the whole football family, particularly for African football.

This shows that we can solve internal disputes within the football family for the benefit of all those who are involved in our game, and in particular for the players,” said the Fifa president after the meeting.

“Considering the emotional circumstances surrounding this case, it was very important for the parties to find a reasonable solution in order to put an end to their dispute.

This is good news for the players of the Togolese team as well as for CAS, which has been able to bring this mediation to a successful conclusion,” added Matthieu Reeb, secretary general of CAS.

I really think this is a great move by FIFA. A promise made in September 2008 by Fifa President Joseph S. Blatter and the 2010 Organising Committee (OC) became reality for 27 000 stadium construction workers as the symbolic hand-over of the first Fifa World Cup™ ticket took place on Monday at the iconic Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
Organising Committee CEO Dr Danny Jordaan, Fifa Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and Johannesburg’s executive mayor Amos Masondo attended the event to pay tribute to the efforts made in upgrading and building the ten world-class football arenas.

“We want to say a big thank you to the men and women whose hard work, skill and creativity brought us to the point we’re at today. It is amazing what you have achieved and we hope that you will enjoy your World Cup experience,” said Jordaan, who together with the Fifa Secretary General handed over the symbolic ticket to Patrick Geqeza, representing the construction workers who built and upgraded the tournament’s ten stadiums.

“I am really proud when I look at the work my fellow workers and I have done over the years. The chance to sit in the stadiums we have built for a World Cup match is a perfect reward, something we would have never imagined,” said Geqeza, who has been part of the reconstruction of the Soccer City Stadium from day one.

The distribution of the tickets to workers will commence on 17 May when those eligible can collect them at the OC venue offices in the respective Host Cities (exact dates and pick-up venues attached). Each worker will receive two match tickets.

However, the Ticket Fund is not just about rewarding the construction workers. It is also aimed at having a wider impact on South African society.

Hundreds of thousands of kids and adults across South Africa are benefiting from participating in one of the sustainable Ticket Fund programmes implemented by the Fifa Partners adidas, Coca-Cola, Hyundai, Kia, Sony and Visa. Of the 120 000 complimentary category 4 tickets, 66 000 are being allocated as a reward to South Africans in recognition of their contributions to these social and community programmes.

The Fifa Partner projects are focused on three key areas – education, health and the environment. Crucially, the Ticket Fund initiative will not end when the final whistle is blown on 11 July 2010. All the Fifa Partner projects are based on long-term partnerships that will continue to create opportunities for South Africans for years to come. For further details on the Ticket Fund projects, please visit Fifa.com at: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/organisation/ticketfund/index.html

Each participating Fifa Partner was represented at Soccer City today, with Fifa Secretary General Jérôme Valcke commending their support for the initiative. “We have received great backing from our Partners on this project and already thousands of people across South Africa have participated in social development programmes, aimed at empowering them with the knowledge and skills to help shape their futures,” said Valcke, who also extended Fifa’s thanks to the construction workers.

For councillor Masondo, the event marked a special day: ”As we are standing here at Soccer City stadium, a venue that will host the opening and the final matches of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, I am so proud to say that this was done by these workers sitting in front of us. They have been involved in building some of the most impressive stadiums in Africa and indeed the world.”

Nike are doing great things for the (RED) campaign this weekend. They are  introducing a special edition (PRODUCT)^RED ball in three top European leagues’ home fixtures to raise awareness of the (NIKE) ^RED ‘Lace Up. Save Lives’ partnership.

In a unified show of support for the global initiative, the Barclays Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A will use a (NIKE)^RED ball at all home games over the weekend of March 13^th and 14^th.

The Nike and (RED) partnership invites people to ‘Lace Up. Save Lives’ by purchasing a pair of (NIKE)^RED laces. One hundred percent of the profits from (NIKE)^RED laces is split equally between The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which funds AIDS programs that provide medicine, treatment and services for those living with HIV, and football-based community initiatives that deliver education and understanding around HIV/AIDS prevention.

The (NIKE)^RED ball is a specially designed T90 Ascente – the same make of ball currently used by all three leagues and boasts all of the technological innovations that the players are accustomed to week in week out, but features the (RED) laces graphic on the exterior.

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said: “The Premier League has enormous global appeal and we are committed to using our reach to raise awareness of this partnership between, Nike, one of our longest serving commercial partners, and (RED). A red ball and red laces are simple ideas, but sometimes those are the best – the hope is that the profile given through this and the money raised through ‘Lace Up, Save Lives’ will provide significant impetus and funding to the Global Fund’s activities to aid the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa.”

Susan Smith Ellis, CEO of (RED) says: “Having three of the world’s Premier football leagues is a force multiplier for NIKE AND (RED).  It raises awareness.  It expands our reach.  Most important, it benefits those who suffer from AIDS in Africa.  We could not be more pleased.”

“Nike has a history of elevating global causes through sport. Through the power and appeal of football, this campaign not only highlights the HIV/AIDS issue globally, it has also created a great way to raise much needed funds,” said Mark Parker, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc.

On November 30^th, 2009, the eve of World AIDS Day, Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Denilson (Arsenal), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Clint Dempsey (Fulham) and Seol Ki-Hyeon (Fulham) joined U2 front man Bono and Mark Parker at Niketown London to announce the partnership.

The (NIKE)^RED Limited Edition Ascente Ball will be available for £150 and 2010 (NIKE)^RED Limited Edition Brasil N98 Track Jackets will also be £150 and both will be sold globally from March 3^rd. (NIKE)^RED products are also now being sold at retail. (NIKE)^RED laces are available now at Nike Store locations, key retailers and www.nikefootball.com/RED or at www.nikestore.com. The jackets are numbered. A second round of balls will be available again starting in May.

A series of (RED)-themed games will be played highlight awareness of the initiative:

• 13 March: Hertha BSC vs. FC Nurnberg (Germany)
• 24 March: FC Basel vs. FC Zurich (Switzerland)
• 20 March: FK Austria Wien vs FC Salzburg (Austria)
• 20 March: PSV vs. FC Twente (Holland)
• 20 March: Trabzonspor vs. Galatasaray (Turkey0
• 1 April: Corinthians vs. Cerro Porteno  (Brazil)

Make sure you grab your laces and watch the (RED) games this weekend!

Day 4 finds us in Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Name Mbombela Stadium

Year completed 2009

Cost US$145,000,000

Capacity 46,000

Home to To be confirmed

Trivia Work was delayed on the project as the land used was occupied by a school that had to be relocated first. The stadium has 1,030 toilets. Spectators at the front of the stands will be closer to the pitch than anywhere else at the tournament

The new Mbombela Stadium is a 46,000-seater arena located 5km west of town in Mataffin. The Mbombela – which means ‘many people in a small space’ – has been nicknamed the ‘Giraffe Stadium’ because of the 18 roof supports designed to look like the inhabitants of Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves.

Just off the N4, access by car or bus should pose no problems. Organisers have designated four park-and-ride sites: Nelspruit Rugby Club, Nelspruit High School, Bergvlam High School and the Agricultural Research Centre. The Fan Park is set to be housed up at the Agricultural Showgrounds.

Get ready for the Vuvuzela at World Cup South Africa 2010! The Vuvuzela is a trumpet like instrument that sends out a deafening wail that is far from musical. I have actually attended a Chivas USA game, yes I was one of the few, and heard the wailing of these devices for the entire 90 minutes and most of half-time. I am sure the players don’t even hear it after a while but for me it was extremely annoying and didn’t add much to the atmosphere. I am used to games in Argentina where there is plenty of noise with a purpose and the atmosphere is intensified by singing and chants that have been used for decades. According to all of the information I read, there is really no actual purpose behind the noise made by the instrument or a certain moment that you are supposed to use it.

Apparently Europeans hate these things, don’t be surprised if you see some South Africans relieved of their Vuvuzela forcefully by some some British thugs at some point during the tournament. Luckily for the South Africans only approximately 15% of the stadium will be filled by them. This is the result of tickets prices that would be the equivalent of a few days wages for a local.

After the Confederations Cup FIFA actually attempted to ban the devices due to that fact that some hooligans may use the meter long instrument as a weapon or companies may try to place advertisements on them. In order to block the possible ban the South African Football Association made a plea that the Vuvuzela is essential to the true South African football experience. This presentation did the trick and the Vuvuzela will be allowed at the tournament.

Hey when it boils down to it you have the World Cup on different continents for the distinct purpose of allowing fans to experience the football culture of that continent. Africa has always been a unique and mysterious part of the world, different than the more tame continents of North America and Europe. The Vuvzela is a perfect example of that theme. What do I know, maybe people from around the world will be captivated by the Vuvuzela this summer.

Here is a little Vuvuzela 101 from Goal.com

Yes… you read correctly. Akon, famous for being on every song possibly known to man in the last 2 years… I mean, does he actually hide in closets in record studios shouting ‘Konvict Muzik’ so other artists don’t actually know he’s on the record until it’s too late? (he’s had over 300 guest appearances, is that more than Lil’ Wayne? When will they do a song together? Are they the same person?)

I have a few problems with this song. Number 1 being, it’s rather crap… could they really not have done a better job, I mean, it is a World Cup and all. Number 2, nobody seems to have told Akon that Wales and Scotland are much like his song… crap, and didn’t qualify for the World Cup, this can be seen at the 1:30 mark when a kid has the Union Flag on his face. Number 3, it’s by Akon, who is a little less annoying than a trip to the dentists… take a look:

The good thing about the song is that it is helping under privileged kids in Africa. Which is a lot better than what Akon usually does to little kids abroad, here he is with a 15 year old in Trinidad:

yes, she was 15

and here’s video of the incident that he got in so much trouble for…