The “Unity kit” will carry PUMA’s Yellow ‘life’ Label
German sportswear giant Puma and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have unveiled a “unified African kit” – that the continent’s teams can use if their national colours clash during the African Nations Cup and World Cup finals.
The “Play for Life” partnership is part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity and intends to raise awareness about habitat and species conservation among football fans.
Africa Unity Kit
The 12 Puma-sponsored African teams are adopting a unique continental football strip known as the Africa Unity Kit, as their official third kit. They are Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Mozambique, Togo, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, and Namibia.
These 12 teams will also wear the Fifa-approved strip during friendly games in the build-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, which kicks off on 11 June in Johannesburg.
Africa – Home to Nine out of 35 Biodiversity Hotspots
Africa is home to nine of the planet’s 35 Biodiversity hotspots, the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on Earth. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), species have been disappearing at up to 1,000 times the natural rate, and this is predicted to rise dramatically. Based on current trends, an estimated 34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species face extinction.
Third Kit for 2010 World Cup and CAF
Puma chief executive Jochen Zeitz said the use of the kits had been approved by FIFA as a third kit which can be worn when there is a clash of uniforms between competing teams during the Nations Cup and the World Cup.
“In 2010, Africa will be at the centre of the footballing world. Puma is creating a unique kit embracing the diversity of African Nations teams while valuing the unity of players and supporters towards a common goal,” said Zeitz at a news conference.
“Biodiversity and therefore valuing and protecting all life on our planet is a huge issue, not only in Africa, but around the world. We are proud to partner with UNEP to raise both awareness and funds through the sale of Unity products,” he added.
The Africa Unity Kit will be used at the 2010 African Cup of Nations football tournament in Angola between 10 and 31 January. All profits from worldwide sales of the replica kit will support biodiversity programmes in Africa.
Designer shoelaces (lacelets)
Unity T-Shirts and Lacelets
Besides the kit, other items such as Unity t-shirts and lacelets – collectible shoe laces featuring patterns from leading American artist Kehinde Wiley – are available.
The kit comes with replica jerseys in brown pantone colour, which were created by mixing soil samples from Ghana, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Cameroon and matching shorts.
Source and images: pumavision.com
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