photo from fcbarcelona.com
Nearly all major European futbol leagues come to the end this month. Immediately the attention turned to the launching of the new futbol uniforms for the new season. This part of a futbol season, is one of the favorites not just for futbol fans, it also the favorite of fashionista! And when the moment the word “fashionista” is used, one can’t hide the fact that the Spanish giant, FC Barcelona’s newly launched uniform has to be mentioned.
According to Nike and futbol uniforms’ collectors’ favorite, footballfashion.org, Barcelona’s new home and away kits fuse together club tradition with a modern and creative expression to give the team an exciting new look for the new season. It is a combining performance innovation with low environmental impact each kit (shirt and shorts) is made using up to thirteen recycled plastic water bottles.
For the home uniform, the red crew neck collar gives the shirt a classic but modern feel, whilst the graphic on the outer neck is the Catalan Senyera flag. The inner neck reads, ‘MÉs Que Un Club’ (More than a club). The blue on the shirt is a darker blue than seasons gone by. And the font used on the Kit is inspired by Catalan architecture. For the new away kit, it is an explosion of bright colour to celebrate the club’s effervescent style of play. The new shirt fuses orange into yellow on the body paying homage to the city’s mixture of culture, art, style and architecture. The shirt has a classic orange crew neck ribbed collar with the famous Blaugrana detail on the back of the neck and orange sleeves.
As a matter of fact, not only FC Barcelona has launched its uniquely inspired uniform for the new season coming up, big teams from Europe have launched their respective uniform too. Manchester Utd launched its uniform which was inspired by cotton mills, Olympic Marseille’s was designed by singer Akhenaton of the group IAM and France-Argentine sculptor Pablo Reinoso, and Arsenal’s was inspired by the home kit socks worn in the 1930s under legendary manager Herbert Chapman!
So have you bought yours for the new season yet?
23 May 2012 READ MORE >
Nicolas Anelka’s move to Shanghai Shenhua has created an amazing futbol craze across Asia! The man responsible for spearheading Anelka’s move from Chelsea was Shanghai Shenghua’s chairman, Wang Jun, who believed Anelka’s inclusion would raise the futbol standard in the country. Well, I believe so!
Still remember many years back when David Beckham abandoned European futbol for the North American’s, namely LA Galaxy? Beckham’s involvement in MLS helped raise fan attendance, television ratings, jersey sales and the overall profit of MLS. The impact was huge. Instantly, MLS had the entire world’s attention.
These were not the only examples which created a futbol craze in Asia. Japanese’s futbol once hosted the services of former England’s Gary Lineker (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Denmark’s Michael Laudrup (Vissel Kobe), Brazil World Cup winners’ Zico , Jorginho, Bebeto (Kashima Antlers), Dunga (Jubilo Iwata), Sweden’s Fredrik Ljungberg (Shimizu S-Pulse) and even former African Player of the Year, Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma (Gamba Osaka).
Personally, I am opening both of my arms wide to welcome European big names to Asia! Some of them might have passed their prime but their experience of playing at the highest level is something which the local chaps can benefit from! By training and playing with the big names day in day out, undoubtedly the standard of the team or probably the local league will be improved!
Whatever can raise the standard of Asian futbol or create a positive hype on Asia futbol is always welcome. J-League started the trend of attracting the big names to Asia in the nineties. Now China Super League is leading the trend, who knows, from East Asia, the trend could be moving to South East Asia! Personally, I am hopping Singapore’s S-League could be doing the same too.
photo from fifa.com
6 April 2012 READ MORE >
Prior to every major competition, especially with Euro Cup 2012 just months away, there bound to be a fashion hype as many countries would start to launch their respective new jersey for the competition. So what are some of the most talked about jerseys around the globe before Euro Cup 2012? Junpiter Futbol shares with you!
The Azzurri launched their famous white/blue away jersey for their upcoming European Championship. First of all, that broad blue strip across the chest is eye-catching! With the puma-logo, numbering and Italy’s futbol crest, it really stand-out! The classic V-neck does make the Italian fitter-looking too! While looking at this, it reminds me of another Nike jersey which has a very similar design - Poland’s home jersey in white/red.
Poland’s new home kit is definitely inspired by their Polish flag. According to Nike, this new kit is also lighter and more durable than any previous kit which the team has worn, and is the most environmentally friendly in Nike’s futbol history. Based on research, the kit is produced from lightweight fabric called Atom, the jersey weighs only 149 grams, making it the lightest kit that Nike has ever designed. It is also 110% stronger and has more breathability than previous kits. Additional Dri-Release cotton yarns give superior player comfort and increase moisture management.
Next, the current European Champion, Spain. Their new dark red, makes the jersey more sleek and classic looking. Their Adidas advertising campaign is “The past does not count, everything begins again.” Spain wants to be the first team to win the Euro Cup-World Cup -Euro Cup or three consecutive tournaments. The message behind the slogan or new campaign is only through humbleness, hard work and determination will one be successful.
Probably the most talked about jersey as of now, could be Netherland’s newly-launched away jersey! The new away kit represents the inherent style and authority of Dutch football in a sophisticated new black design. The color combination of black and orange is an instant stand-out! In line with Nike’s commitment to superior athletic performance and lower environmental impact, the fabric of the new kit’s shorts is made with 100% recycled polyester, while the fabric of the shirts is made with at least 96% recycled polyester. Each kit is made using an average of 13 recycled plastic bottles!
Portugal’s new away kit draws inspiration from the country’s adventurous seafaring history and famous explorers. The away jersey is white with a large cross on the front — a revered national symbol that was emblazoned on the sails of Portuguese ships. The half-red, half-green cross is divided diagonally at the center to represent the Armillary Sphere, a Portuguese national symbol for 500 years and also found on the nation’s flag. Another Armillary Sphere symbol can be found inside the jersey’s neck.
So much so for the new jerseys launched, most of them are indeed unique. Behind the designs, there are plenty of convincing stories in why the designs are like that. So other than watching the hunks sweating out on the pitch, there is another reason for the fashion-followers to glue their eyes to the TV this coming summer!
10 March 2012 READ MORE > | 4 notes
Just when I thought I have done with the futbol fashion topic, I am back writing about that (again) after seeing the photo above!
When I first set my eyes on this photo, it gave me a very seasonal and comfortable feel. Colorful leggings, cooling weather, warm sunshine and also the clean-looking turf - futsal pitch! Unknowingly, I am smiling at the photo! Not exactly sure if these were real futsal players or merely just models with adidas attire posing for the photographer. It definitely looked like they were enjoying the moment!
Fashion is a style of dressing and how you make your unique-ness stands out. To me, you can move forward to a non-conventional way but the basic cannot be compromised. For example, shinpads are meant to be slotted inside the socks and for goodness sake, you want to be outstanding, you tape them right outside the socks??
So this is the time of the year where many clubs all over the world start launching their new jerseys for the season. Recently, only did I just discover this very interesting website Football Fashion where it updates and shares with all futbol fans on the latest launched jerseys and including news on some of the most recent games! To me, its an excellent website where you could see the latest futbol fashion on earth!
Of course, these are just the attire or uniform of the club, players themselves do have their own fashion senses which stands out too. Players like David Beckham who always a big hit with the magazines for his latest worn boots and his dressings off the field. Former Asian Player of the Year, Hidetoshi Nakata, is another magazines’ favorite for his outstanding fashion sense. Previously, I did a write-up on this topic and for those who didn’t manage to read it, here’s the link - JPF Futbol Fashion!
So before you hit the field, think twice what you gonna wear, the “approved” accessories, before you know, your self-confidence could be boosted which might improve your game! Good luck again!
11 February 2012 READ MORE >
I feel the pinch (too) when I saw this online article – young futbol talents, hampered at the start of his futbol-ing career by national service duty back in Singapore. Not only me, I believe many futbol hopefuls reading these would understand how much impact the national service had caused especially when you were at the peak of your futbol career.
Just when you were done with a few thousand pieces of jigsaw puzzle using the past 10 days, someone came and messed it all up. You would be having this dilemma, questioning yourself if you should redo the few thousand pieces of jigsaw puzzle or should you just stop and carry on with other things? Some might argue with me on this example but let’s face it, put the agenda of doing the jigsaw puzzle aside, not all but many, or most of us would not re-do it the second time. I want to put this example back to the unfortunate reality which Singapore futbol is facing. Please do not get me wrong, I am a Singaporean and I went through the mandatory 2 years of national service and in fact, in another 2 years’ time, I will be officially ROD (save your time of searching the meaning of this ROD, it simply means finally I am off from the government’s book for good!!).
My national service called-up came when I was at my futbol peak. I traded my futbol jersey for the army green unwillingly, in despair to be exact. Unwillingly accepted the fact that one of my feet was on the professional futbol pitch and now I am stepping out totally and indefinitely. 2 years passed, I am not anywhere near the standard where I used to and eventually gave up that futbol dream which I was holding on passionately for years. I can still remember making the same wish, to be a professional futbol player, every year prior to blowing the birthday candles in front of all my friends and family.
I do not want to give readers here an impression that I am blaming national service for my misfortune - national service is a futbol-dream dasher. I just feel that something can be done to give this lot of young futbol talents an opportunity to shine and to continue improve without any distraction or unnecessary pressure. All of us know that the crucial age for futbol development is between 18-25 years old and unfortunately many local talented players are enlisted during these age. Honestly, how many can make it to Home Utd or SAF? Or I should say, how many slot the clubs have to accommodate thousands and thousands of gifted youngsters?
I enjoy reading the comments on facebook on this topic. Is it true that South Korea has this arrangement where a man can be enlisted to army at any time before 30 years old? Talk about this, I ever did hear that some Korean artists such as famous Rain, only went into the army when he’s near 30 years old! If this is true, then I think that special “allowance” will be very helpful for our futbol players here! National service is mandatory and crucial but we hope that certain flexibility can be practiced to compromise the national service vs futbol-issue. Even our legendary striker, Fandi Ahmad, hesitated if he should allow both of his talented young boys who caught the eyes of Chelsea’s and AC Milan’s scouts, to take up Singapore citizenships. Don’t get it? Means he’s aware that national service will put a halt to his children’s European futbol career development!
If anyone who’s reading these, and have the capability of influencing the top government officials, like children, cousins, nephews, nieces of Singapore’s Ministers’, Prime Minister’s or Mr. President’s, do me a small favor… show this write-up to them, on behalf of Junpiter Futbol, thank you very much!
