Nikesoccer

Drogba finds a way

DonJulio — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:00:06 GMT

Unplayable. Unstoppable.

Drogba's the difference once again.

Have your say and don't miss a single Write The Future moment. Join the conversation with Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Watch all the latest videos from Nike Soccer on Youtube.

WRITE THE FUTURE: #EndAIDS

socshep18 — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:00:39 GMT

Today life saving medication exists but millions still can't afford it.

Watch how the power of a global movement can eliminate AIDS.

You've seen the future. Now write it.

Join the fight. #EndAids

http://www.nike.com/red

Drogba's call to arms on June 20th

DonJulio — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:29:53 GMT

Drogba has the world's attention and intends to make the most of it.

But it's not a game.

On June 20th, all eyes will be on Drogba.

Help him end AIDS in Africa.

Lace Up Save Lives and join the fight against HIV/AIDS

It's Never Too Late

DonJulio — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:05:31 GMT

Most players don't have the opportunity to go for academy trials; some don't have the benefit of playing for a team from an early age.

But it didn't stop Didier Drogba aspiring to greatness.

From the make-shift car park pitches of his hometown, Abidjan, to the Parisian streets, soccer was a daily ritual for Didier.

Eventually, at 15, he got the chance to take his love for the game to the next level.

The intensity of training at his local youth team demanded he stepped up; he responded with two prolific seasons and the scouts soon came knocking.

Injury threatened to stall his late-blossoming career but Didier's professionalism, desire and determination saw him overcome.

At 19, an age where most players are trying to make their first team mark, Didier signed his first apprenticeship.

Two years later, he went pro.

This summer, he takes on the world.

Didier's chance didn't come early. Yours arrives on June 10.

Seize it: http://go.nike.com/TheChanceEvent

Have your say and don't miss a single Write The Future moment. Join the conversation with Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Watch all the latest videos from Nike Soccer on Youtube.

Seize Your Chance

DonJulio — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:47:03 GMT

Chances don't come easy.

There are obstacles and doubts, nerves and injuries to overcome.

So, when you get the chance: seize it.

Be ruthless. Be brilliant. Be ready.

The Chance goes global from June 10th.

Be there.

Preparing The Elite: Manchester and London

DonJulio — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:42:12 GMT

The initial stop on the Nike Insider’s Elite Series world tour, Rooney, Evra, Essien, Walcott and Drogba were among the first athletes to get their hands on the Elite Series.

Player reactions:

Rooney likes the idea of taking weight out of the boot.

Evra likes the Carbon Fiber and the weight difference.

Drogba thinks the total orange will match his national team kit perfectly.

Essien on the boot’s look: "For me, it's perfect."

Explore the Elite Series

Have your say and don't miss a single Write The Future moment. Join the conversation with Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Watch all the latest videos from Nike Soccer on Youtube.

England Conquered. Now The World

DonJulio — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:09:02 GMT

29 league goals.

1 Premier League title.

South Africa next.

Have your say and don't miss a single Write The Future moment. Join the conversation with Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Watch all the latest videos from Nike Soccer on Youtube.

Didier's Day

DonJulio — Tue, 11 May 2010 01:44:11 GMT

On a day when title glory beckoned, Didier Drogba demonstrated why he's the Premier League's deadliest striker with a display of speed, strength and precision.

His destructive second half hat-trick marked his 27th, 28th and 29th goals of the season while Ashley and Joe Cole combined at the death to put the gloss on a title-winning display.

Will Didier be as prolific in South Africa? Is Ashley back to his best in time for the summer?

Have your say and don't miss a single Write The Future moment. Join the conversation with Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Watch all the latest videos from Nike Soccer on Youtube.

National Teams Lace Up

DonJulio — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:44:06 GMT

AIDS is a global pandemic, and so this week players from all over the world--from Korea to the Ivory Coast, to Brazil and Ireland, the United States and Netherlands, Portugal and China--will tie on (NIKE)RED laces and pull on (NIKE)RED track jackets for their mid-week international friendlies.

The laces are more than a symbol. Each pair of laces purchased supports Lace Up Saves Lives, a campaign created to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa using both education through sport and medication thru The Global Fund.

Led by (NIKE)RED's global ambassador Didier Drogba, who will take the field in London against Korea on Wednesday, athletes the world over are capitalizing on the increased attention on South Africa and the greater African continent to prove that soccer can indeed be much more than a game, and that the passion surrounding sport can be harnessed for the greater good.

Red netting will be used in the goals for the matches and a special (NIKE)RED ball will be used during the game to highlight the partnership.

Watch the games. Learn more about Lace Up Save Lives. Join the must-win battle against HIV/AIDS.

Brazil vs Ireland (3.2)
US vs Netherlands (3.3)
Portugal vs China (3.3)
Korea vs Ivory Coast (3.3)
Belgium vs Croatia (3.3)

Lace Up

DonJulio — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:55:20 GMT

There are thousands of ways to wear the laces and even more things to do with them, but there's only one way to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and that is why the laces exist.

Crossing both borders and sports, a group of some of the finest athletes in the world have come together to raise awareness about Africa's AIDS pandemic.

Only education holds a longterm answer for halting the spread of AIDS, and by wearing NIKE(RED) laces on their feet (or hands, heads, arms, waist…) Didier Drogba, Andrei Arshavin, Clint Dempsey, Denilson, Marco Materazzi, Javier Mascherano, Fabio Cannavaro, along with Maria Sharapova and Kobe Bryant want to encourage fans globally to "Lace Up Save Lives."

Learn more about Lace Up Save Lives and join the must-win fight against AIDS in Africa.

On The Same Team

DonJulio — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:48:18 GMT

Though opponents on the field, many players in Africa's leading international tournament are on the same team off of it.

Though the jerseys will cover the entire spectrum, only one color unites them all.

Led by global (NIKE)RED ambassador Didier Drogba, players such as John Obi Mikel, Jacob Mulenga, Andre Ayew, and Rigobert Song wore and are wearing (NIKE)RED laces in the continental clash to show support for Lace Up Save Lives, a project dedicated to raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa through soccer.

For national teams, fans expect nothing but victory on the pitch. The same can be said off of it as well.

Learn more about Lace Up Save Lives and join the must-win fight against AIDS in Africa.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

The Best of Africa

DonJulio — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:13:29 GMT

Not every award is giving to the most deserved player, but its hard to argue with voters who elected Lace Up Save Lives lead ambassador Didier Drogba as Africa's best footballer.

Nominated by experts--Voted on my millions of fans around the globe--On the eve of the continent's championship--Just months before they host the world's greatest sporting event…

It just had to be Drogba.

For everything the Ivorian has brought to the sport and to his home country and continent, there was no other option.

Drogba is the best of Africa.

Learn more about how you can join Africa's best footballer in the fight against HIV/AIDS by becoming involved in Lace Up Save Lives at Nikesoccer.com/RED.

32 Nations. 1 Mission

DonJulio — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:34:52 GMT

The groups are drawn, the matches set and history awaits.

The chosen 32 have earned their tickets to South Africa. But belief and an appetite for glory will now be put to the test on the world's biggest stage. Who's hungry?

Expect danger and perfection in equal doses when Drogba, Fabiano and Ronaldo clash in the early stages. All three lethal finishers will aim to change the game at all times. Backlines brace yourselves...

England will go into their first match against the USMNT with plenty of confidence, having blazed to the top of their qualification group. Combine Rooney's ruthless eye for goal, Ferdinand's strength and Theo's lightning-quick pace, and you have a team ready for business.

But no longer considered inexperienced upstarts, Landon Donovan's side has proved they can hold their own, beating the world #1 and finishing second in South Africa this past summer. So expect the unexpected.

And it's not just about the big guns. The smaller nations will also be eager to shake things up this summer.

Michael Essien, Muntari, Song and Obi Mikel will be holding it down for the African nations and baring their teeth with the best of them. South Korea and Australia provide the giant killing potential and look to cause 2010 upsets. As South Africa draws near, one thing is for certain - everyone believes they can win it, but only one team will prove it.

Who will go all the way? Have your say at facebook.com/nikesoccer.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about the USMNT at their team page and other national teams in the bootroom.

Pro Combat Player Of The Week

DonJulio — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:56:32 GMT

The best come ready for battle. But who battled best this week?

It's not about scoring goals. It's about total match performance. It's about running all over the field, winning every 50/50 ball. It's all the intangibles that don't show up on the score sheet but in the end turn the game for your team.

That's a Pro Combat Player, and now it's your turn to tell us who is the Pro Combat Player of the Week.

We'll select three players who personified what it means to be a Pro Combat Player from the weekend, and then you tell us who you thought came best prepared for battle.

To vote, go to facebook.com/nikesoccer or reply to @nikesoccer at Twitter with your vote and the hashtag filter #procombat. We'll announce the winner on Wednesday.

Clubs are jockeying for position as they head toward the winter break. Who stepped up this week? Here's the three we've selected who exemplified what it means to be a Pro Combat Player. Now you tell us which battled the best.

Carlos Puyol
Madrid got the ball into Barcelona's defensive third, but thanks to Puyol, they went no further. Several last minute tackles proved decisive in killing shots at goal. The captian's ability to not only direct a defense but also be first to step in and make game saving tackles made it obvious he would warrant the highest player rating on the field.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
If you are going to keep one of your best as a substitute, would you want him to do anything more than what Zlatan did this week, be a clear cut difference maker. That's exactly what the Swedish forward did by slotting home a slick game-winner five minutes after he stepped onto the field in the most high pressure of situations.

Didier Drogba
It's not about his two goals. It's about doing it again and again against crosstown rivals Arsenal - 10 goals in 11 games to be exact. On Sunday, Drogba was a monster, his power and pressure lifting him above all others. On the field that day, there was no equal.

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

London Laces Up

DonJulio — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:27:20 GMT

Niketown London's bootroom was not about football tonight. Or at least not about what transpires on the field.

The store was closed but more open to the world than ever before as NIKE president and CEO Mark Parker, Bono and (NIKE)RED's Global Ambassador Didier Drogba announced their new campaign.

Football stars Joe Cole, Lucas Neill, Marco Materazzi, Andrei Arshavin, Clint Dempsey, Seol Ki-Hyeon and Denilson joined Drogba to debut red laces that they all will wear on the field to show their support for (NIKE)RED, a humanitarian campaign designed to generate funds for organizations fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Drogba highlighted how important it was for him to be involved. His home nation, the Ivory Coast, has been decimated by AIDS, something he has witnessed first hand. He then pressed the media crowd, stressing how easy it is to save lives by supporting RED. There have been victories, and he wants to keep winning. By supporting the cause, Drogba knows he can.

Find out about (NIKE)RED
Join the fight on Twitter