This is the revolutionary new Africa Unity Kit - the world's first continental football kit, unveiled at Puma's 'Play for Life' press conference held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Designed to be worn by the 12 African football national teams sponsored by Puma, the African Unity football kit will be worn by World Cup qualifiers Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Algeria. Along with African Cup of Nations' hosts Angola and Egypt, Mozambique, Togo, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco and Namibia.
The Puma Africa Unity football kit has a unique and inspirational colourway. 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. And all of the applications, such as the number and the badge are cast in yellow to represent the sun shining down on Africa!
The Africa Unity football kit has been approved by FIFA who have officially recognised it as the Official third kit to be worn by Puma sponsored African teams. In 2010, Africa will be at the centre of the footballing world with both the African Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup so the Africa Unity kit makes a compelling global statement. By wearing the Africa Unity football kit, African teams are not only uniting as a powerful force in world football, but also raising awareness of the importance of environmental issues.
In addition to the Africa Unity football kit, Puma have a host of other gear designed to
generate additional funds to support biodiversity, including Puma Unity
t-shirts and Puma Lacelets, collectable shoe laces featuring patterns
from world-renowned artist Kehinde Wiley, who was responsible for the recent KW Puma v1.10 football boots. These products all bear the
Puma Yellow "life" Label, and Puma's profits from sales of the replica fanwear and Unity
Kits will help fund biodiversity programs in Africa, and in particular
endangered species on the continent such as lions, elephants, gorillas
and the desert fox.
With 12 African football
team sponsorships to its name and a history of innovation with Africa,
Puma is uniquely positioned to help drive this effort with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The 'Play for Life' initiative has been created to support the 2010 International
Year of Biodiversity, by raising awareness about habitat and species
conservation among football fans and the general public during
worldwide football events. These events will include the Orange Cup of African Nations
in Angola this month and international friendly games leading up
to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
Puma and the UNEP were joined at the unveiling by
the Indomitable Lions - Cameroon's national football team - to announce a strategic partnership to support
biodiversity worldwide and specific initiatives in Africa. Cameroon's captain Samuel Eto'o commented:
"The new Africa Unity Kit has inspired me and my teammates. Not only are we very proud to wear a shirt that helps bring the continent of Africa together but to do so for such an important cause is truly an honour. Supporting the Africa Unity Kit sends out a positive message for Africa - we are a uniting as a continent to help life and the planet."
