Football Team's Vientiane Debacle A Shame To The Country - NSC
From Zulhilmi Supaat
VIENTIANE, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong described the action of the men's football team to manhandle match officials after their 1-3 loss to Vietnam, as a disgrace to the country.
He added that the reason offered by head coach K. Rajagobal that the incident was triggered by bias and controversial decisions made by the referee against Malaysia, cannot be accepted.
"To me, the referee was fair and indeed a number of decisions made by him favoured the Malaysian team," said Zolkples who was among those who watched the match on Sunday.
In the match held at the Main Stadium of the Laos National Sports Complex, Malaysia lost 1-3 to Vietnam, a result that put Malaysian semifinal hopes on tender hooks.
When South Korean referee Kim Jong Hyeok blew the final whistle, some of the Malaysian players charged at the referee to register their protest after the South Korean had dismissed substitute Mohd Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak for a second bookable offence.
Players had also retorted to throwing water bottles aimlessly at the match official before security officials from Laos intervened and prevented the situation from getting out of hand.
Zolkples also blamed all the Malaysian team officials for further provoking the players, with the exception of Tan Cheng Hoe (coach) who sat calm on the bench.
He added that Malaysia should have just accepted the result because the Vietnam players played better as they were fitter and faster.
"From my observation, our players played below their capabilities and paid too much respect to their opponent," he said.
VIENTIANE, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's hopes of making it to the semi-finals of the Laos SEA Games men's football competition, suffered a major setback after a 1-3 loss to Vietnam, at the Laos National Stadium here Sunday.
Malaysia who beat Timor Leste 11-0 on Wednesday, were not able to find their scoring boots today, in a match dominated by the fitter and faster Vietnamese and even the solitary goal was a result of an own goal by Vo Hoang Quang who headed the ball into his own net.
It was the second consecutive time Malaysia suffered a defeat at the hands of Vietnam in the SEA Games, since Vietnam scored a similar victory during the Korat SEA Games in Thailand two years ago, a result that doused Malaysia's hopes of winning a medal.
Vietnam scored their first goal through Nguyen Cong Minh in the 11th minute after South Korean referee Kim Jong Hyeok awarded a penalty for handball.
Jolted by the goal, K. Rajagobal's boys went on the offensive in search of an equaliser, leaving gapping holes in defence and Vietnam exploited the opportunity when Mai Tien Thanh set out on a solo run to beat Malaysian goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias in the 24th minute.
A minute later, Malaysia were thrown a lifeline when an own goal by Hoang Quang, reduced the deficit to 1-2, but any hopes of a resurgence diminished when Nguyen Trong Hoang struck the third goal to restore a two goal advantage in the 43rd minute.
Rajagobal tried to inject fresh blood by introducing Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak, K. Gurusamy and S. Kunalan for the non-effective Amar Rohidan, Abdul Manaf Mamat and Ahmad Fakri Saarani, but though the trio managed to mount a series of attacks, they were not able to penetrate a stout Vietnamese defence.
Meanwhile, Rajagobal attributed the loss to the inability of his young players to control their temper, due to a number of poor decisions made by the match officials.
"There were many questionable decisions by the referee and that resulted in the players losing their rhythm and focus. Zaquan may also be penalised further for his red card," he said after the match.
Even after the match, players who were unhappy with the match officials, surrounded them while some threw water bottles into the pitch, but Rajagobal managed to calm down his boys and restore order.
With the win, Vietnam top Group A with seven points from three matches while Thailand are second with four points from two matches and Malaysia has three.
Malaysia will now have to beat Thailand in their next match to have any chance of making it to the next stage.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian under-23 men's football team finally arrived in Vientiane at noon Tuesday for the Laos SEA Games after their flight was delayed Monday.
Having lost a day already, the team would be doing light training before their opening match in Group A against Timor Leste tomorrow at 3pm (Msian time 4) at the newly built national stadium.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, when contacted, said the chartered flight took off from the Royal Air Force's Subang Base at 8am.
The team and coach K. Rajagopal were to have left yesterday but the FAM could only get diplomatic clearance for the flight at 4.30pm.
Malaysia's second match will be against Vietnam on Sunday, Cambodia on Dec 8 and defending champions Thailand on Dec 11.
All the matches will be played at the National Stadium except the match against Cambodia, which will be played at the Chao Anouvong Stadium
Group B comprises Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The Foreign Ministry has expressed its concern over the predicament faced by Malaysian under 23 footballers as they could not fly to Vientiane yesterday.
"The ministry regret over the incident, which should not have happened and it wish the national team success in the Laos SEA Games 2009," it said in a statement on Tuesday.
However, the national squad was flown to the Laotian capital by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft today and arrived there at 10.30am Malaysian time.
The national squad was scheduled to leave for Vientiane yesterday for a training stint before taking on Timor Leste in their first Group A match tomorrow.
However, the RMAF was not granted permission to fly the national squad into Vientiane yesterday.
Malaysia will meet Vietnam on Sunday, Cambodia (Dec 8) and defending champions Thailand (Dec 11).
BEFORE Saturday I had not attended a football match in at least a decade, and I was not planning to attend one for at least another decade, but this was the Malaysia Cup Final between Negri Sembilan and Kelantan, and an exception had to be made.
We went to the changing room to meet the players before kick-off: the Deer squad was veritably pumped and ready to take on the Red Warriors. I had already been told about the disparity in the number of supporters: about four Kelantanese to one Negri supporter, mostly Kelantanese residing in Kuala Lumpur plus some diehards who trekked from the north despite the floods and travel difficulties. One of those present warned that they were afraid that if Kelantan lost, there might be difficulties following the match.
The stadium was packed: apparently people had started arriving five hours before, and the ticket-holders were joined by gatecrashers who had overwhelmed the security personnel. The chanting ("Gomo Klate Gomo" versus "Hobin Jang Hobin") was boisterous and the cheering relentless. The banners were hung majestically and the flags were being waved with gusto. Intriguingly, among these flags were those of a political party: a reminder of the potency of the politicisation of sport.
I was a bit worried in the first fifteen minutes: the ball was mostly in our half, but then a slip-up by Kelantan enabled Shahurain Abu Samah to strike the ball into the corner of the net, dramatically altering the tone of the match. The rest of the first half was like ping-pong on the field, although the crowd only got more energetic. The din of chants was increasingly punctuated by the popping of firecrackers and even fireworks, which diverted attention away from the ball.
During half-time the big screen displayed a warning against the setting off of fireworks and the display of political party flags; it was remarked that this might only further provoke the agitators. Less than fifteen seconds into the second half, a ludicrously good header by Hairuddin Omar gave us our second goal – and that’s when the bottles and fireworks were let off in continuous succession for the rest of the match. Although many fans sitting in the lower sections showed their disapproval of fellow supporters higher up who were throwing objects, it did not stop and they had to be evacuated to the stairs.
The security personnel, including the FRU – who more often have a reputation for blasting others themselves – were unwilling or unable to stop this particular demonstration. There was some Schadenfreude in this, but alas it was actually quite threatening at times particularly when the fireworks were let off towards the pitch itself.
Mohd Zaquan Adha Radzak’s goal sealed the deal – resulting in the exodus of many redshirts and the setting of (plastic!) seats on fire – although Indra Putra Mahayuddin’s goal in the final vestiges of play was gorgeously executed to give the final score of 3-1. The last time Negri Sembilan won was in 1948 – the year of the birth of the newly-installed Yang di-Pertuan Besar, and in response to the team’s delivery of this magnificent gift, each member was also awarded the Commemorative Medal for the Installation of Tuanku Muhriz.
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MONDAY marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an event which marked the failure of communism and one that continues to symbolise the enduring spirit of individuals seeking political, economic and social freedom from state oppression.
The impact of the event went beyond Europe: together with the collapse of the Soviet Union, people throughout the world saw the need – at least for markets, if not for democracy as well – to the extent that a nominally communist country is now one of the world’s economic superpowers. In South Africa, it strengthened the opponents to apartheid. In Malaysia, it was less than a month later, on Dec 2, 1989, that Chin Peng and his comrades finally laid down their arms, ending the Emergency.
Alas, the centralisation of power – leading to the perception of nominally neutral state institutions having been compromised by party politics – and enduring distortions in the economy paid for by the taxpayer have resulted in characteristics that would have made the socialists proud. In short, we still have many walls that can be broken down. The need for more reforms is a sentiment shared by those in Barisan and Pakatan, even if clashes among individuals between and within the parties overshadow the agenda.
The removal of the "race" box in forms, the promise to abolish APs, the separation of powers between the executive and the legislature in Selangor, the possibility of local elections in Penang – all of these may help chip away at the walls which constrict us.
Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke, who committed suicide on Tuesday, had battled depression for six years.
Enke, 32, was struck by a train at a level crossing near his Hanover home. He had left a suicide note.
His widow Teresa said he lived in fear that their adopted daughter Leila would be removed from them if her husband's depression became public knowledge.
The couple adopted the eight-month-old in May having lost their biological daughter Lara in 2006 aged two.
Lara died of a rare heart condition, and Enke struggled to overcome his bereavement.
Teresa Enke said: "I tried to be there for him, said that football is not everything. There are many beautiful things in life. It is not hopeless.
Robert was a wonderful man, who had to cope with several blows of fate
Theo Swanziger, president of German football federation
"We had Lara, we have Leila. I always wanted to help him to get through it. He didn't want it to come out because of fear. He was scared of losing Leila."
Teresa and Enke's psychologist Dr Valentin Markser appeared at Hannover's AWD-Arena this afternoon to explain the background to his death.
Earlier, German journalist Alexander Bleick told BBC Radio 5 live: "Robert spent a long time with his wife in the hospital and [Lara's death] was a very sad moment for him.
"A year ago he and his wife adopted a little girl and everyone thought he would be fine again, but as far as we know he had suffered depression for a long time and was taken off training for several weeks in the past month at Hannover.
"Doctors worked with him to get his confidence back but it seems they didn't manage to do it."
Enke's agent said the player had committed suicide, and police spokesman Stefan Wittke, while declining to reveal where the note was found, said all evidence pointed to suicide.
"There is no evidence that would raise doubts about a suicide," Wittke said.
Police said the Hanover 96 captain's car, parked metres away from the tracks, was unlocked with his wallet still inside.
Awards: Bundesliga goalkeeper of the season 2008-09
Fans flocked to his club's Niedersachsen Stadium overnight to lay flowers and light candles at the gates in memory of their captain, who joined them in 2004. Hundreds more queued on Wednesday morning to sign an official book of condolence.
Hannover 96 removed all links to their regular website content, replacing them with a black page showing the simple words "Wir trauern um Robert Enke" ("We are mourning Robert Enke").
Germany's friendly against Chile on Saturday may be postponed. When asked about such a possibility, the general secretary of the German national federation, Wolfgang Niersbach, said: "It's hard to say anything at this point in time. We have to collect our thoughts. It's terrible, we are stunned."
Enke was not in the squad for the match, having recently recovered from a virus, but many expected him to be the number one goalkeeper for the 2010 World Cup.
The German Football League has announced a minute's silence will be held at grounds ahead of the next round of the top two divisions of the Bundesliga for the weekend of 21-22 November, with all players wearing black armbands.
Germany's 1974 World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer told Bild newspaper: "I feel endless loss and sorrow. When you receive news such as this, all other problems seem small."
Theo Zwanziger, president of the national federation, said: "Robert was a wonderful man, who had to cope with several blows of fate."
Oliver Bierhoff, the German football team's general manager, said: "We are all shocked. We are lost for words."
Germany cancelled a planned training session and all interviews scheduled for Wednesday.
Report: Career of German goalkeeper
Enke started his career at Carl Zeiss Jena and club spokesman Andreas Trautmann said: "The right words don't exist for such a tragedy. We are shocked and our thoughts are with Robert's family. They have our heartfelt sympathies."
Jena, now in the German third division, will open a condolence book for Enke, with the intention that it will be passed on to his family.
The death caused shockwaves across Europe, at the various clubs where the goalkeeper had plied his trade.
Enke's former team-mate at Portuguese club Benfica, Nuno Gomes, told the club's website: "I find it hard to believe that he has died. It is a tremendous loss for world football, the loss of a man of rare qualities in our time. It is very sad news.
"I remember how he was just a young kid when he came here but, from day one, he made a great effort to learn our language and did it very quickly. He was a young kid with a huge desire to reach his goals and learn, a man with a capital M."
The club's current goalkeeper Moreira added: "I am shocked. All the memories I have are good ones. As a professional, he was one of the best to pass through Benfica and he learned to speak Portuguese in three months.
"If it was not for [Tuesday's] tragic accident, I'm sure he would have played in the World Cup."
The two Spanish clubs Enke played for, CD Tenerife and Barcelona, paid their condolences to his family.
Kevin Kuranyi, a striker for Schalke 04, told Bild: "It really can't and should not be true. Robert was such a great person. I don't know how I should tell my wife, she is good friends with Robert's wife. I feel for his family."
The German national federation posted a range of further tributes to the player:
• Christian Wulff (Prime Minister of Lower Saxony): "Germany loses an exceptional athlete and a very compassionate man. He was a role model."
• Michael Vesper (General Director of the National Olympic Committee): "I am shaken to the core. Our thoughts are with his family. This is a tragedy."
• Martin Kind (President of Hannover 96): "An absolute catastrophe, which I still cannot grasp."
• Ewald Lienen (former coach of Robert Enke with Hannover 96): "This loss is beyond words. I feel endless regret and sorrow that he was in such as situation that led to this final act."
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has to be held responsible for the damage estimated at RM214,000 caused by Kelantan fans to the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last Saturday as it had rented the premises, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said.
"Although the FAM promised a percentage from its gate collection, it has to be held responsible for any damage," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
Ahmad Shabery said FAM would be notified of the total damage estimated by the Bukit Jalil Stadium Corporation as well as the cost of repairing the damage caused by disappointed Kelantan supporters after their team lost 1-3 to Negeri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup final.
Asked about suggestions to limit the number of fanatic supporters and those with bad records from entering the stadium, he said the move would be contrary to the concept held by the sports industry.
"The development of a sport is linked to spectators, and if we take stern action which makes it difficult for the public to watch, the sport will not do well," he said.
Ahmad Shabery said spectators bought tickets to help boost a team's revenue and the popularity gained could attract good sponsorship from private companies and broadcast rights, as was happening in the West.
While it is undisputed that the origins of modern soccer, or football, originated in Britain, there is a great deal of evidence that points to this beloved game as having an older history.
Where did the game of soccer really begin, and how old is it? To understand how many different varieties of "soccer" there are, you need to understand a bit about the older versions of the game and how they have evolved.
Below, you will find a list of the predominant cultures that had a variety of soccer, and learn how each one differs from what we play today. And no, they never used anything like Lotto shinguards back then either!
Chinese Soccer History
Japanese Soccer History
Egyptian Soccer History
Greek/Roman Soccer History
British Soccer History
Chinese Soccer History
To many, this is the oldest version of soccer to exist. However, there is quite a lot of controversy of whether or not this is the oldest, or Japan's version is the elder. The Chinese version of the game, originally named "Tsu Chu", involved players on a field that had to hit a leather ball stuffed with fur into a small hole. Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play of the game, and it was considered an honor to be a member of a team.
The Emperor of the Han Dynasty, when the game was developed, was an avid player and fan, and spread the popularity of this game all over China during his reign. This roughly dates back to 300 B.C., although there is controversy on the subject of dating, which could result in the origins of the game being as far back as 5000 B.C. Regardless, this version of Soccer is extremely old. Despite that, there is still a version of Tsu Chu played today. While the two games are similar, Tsu Chu has had no effect on the modern version of the game, as it was originally developed and created for play in Great Britain.
Japanese Soccer History
Kemari, the Japanese version of "Soccer", is perhaps one of the most different forms of the sport, in comparison to modern soccer. Kemari was a game of "Keep it up", much like modern hacky sacks, although used with a larger ball that was stuffed with saw dust. This version involves a "pitch", or the field, designated by the selection of four trees, the cherry, maple, pine and willow. Many great houses in Japan would grow trees to have a permanent pitch, or field, established.
Kemari was normally played with two to twelve players. Established in roughly 1004 B.C., it vies for position of the oldest game with China's Tsu Chu. In fact, China's Tsu Chu players and Japan's Kemari players were the first to have an "International" game of their versions of Soccer, which is dated to have occurred in roughly 50 B.C., although a definite date of 611 A.D. is known. Regardless, this game stands with China as a sister sport to Soccer, while it never affected the modern version of the game.
Egyptian Soccer History
While not much is known about Egyptian Soccer, or other ball games, it is thought there was a version of a type of ball game played by young women during the age of Baqet III. On his tomb, images of this sport were depicted, although no one is certain how the game was played or whether or not it truly affected the outcome of modern soccer. Recordings of this game date as far back as 2500 B.C., although not much more is known asides the fact that it was played with a ball. The lack of information on the sport and how it was played has eliminated it from runnings as the first evidence of a game similar to soccer.
Greek/Roman Soccer History
Perhaps the closest relative to modern soccer are the games that were formed by the Greeks during the prime of their culture. They had numerous varieties of football style games, some of which required hands, some of which forbade hands. In the end, after the Roman conquering of Greece, the game Harpastum is what modern soccer would be based from. This game, probably a modified version of the Greek's "Harpaston", which translates roughly to handball. While grossly misnamed, this game is what is considered to be one of the precursors to modern soccer.
British Soccer History
In Britain during the 8th century, soccer was created, not as a recreational sport, but as a war game. One of the stories of the original roots of the sport comes from when a Danish Prince was beheaded, and his head was used as a ball and was kicked around. Ever since this 'legendary' tale, villages and other communities would play a game where they would have to kick a ball to a specific goal. It was a violent game, where injury and death were not uncommon, but it was popular nevertheless. In fact, it was so violent, that in 1331, King Edward the III passed laws to try to stop the playing of the game. It did not work, however, and the sport continued on.
There are even stories of soccer games that involved hundreds upon hundreds of players. In these games, there were many deaths, some resulting in the hundreds. It wasn't until 1815 when Eton College set up a series of rules for the game that it became less violent and more of a true sport. At this time, other colleges and universities took up the banner and began to play under similar rules. Later, the rules were evaluated and judged, and the Cambridge rules were created as a result in 1848. In the Cambridge rules, shin-kicking, carrying the ball and tripping were all forbidden. Rugby rules allowed these aspects, and the two varieties of soccer, or football, split to form their own followings.
On October 26, 1863, London schools and sports club sent representatives to the Freemason's Tavern, where the Football Association was formed. Rugby supporters left this association to form the Rugby Association. This is where the birth of modern soccer began. In 1969, the Football Association finalized the modern game of soccer by forbidding the use of hands in the game.
The term "Soccer" was coined when someone was asked if he was a Rugger, which is a Rugby player. The -er signified that the person participated in a a particular sport. The individual, Charles Wreford Brown, replied with "Soccer!", taking the phrase from Association, SOC, and adding the -er. The term stuck. While British individuals still call the game Football, Americans and other countries call it Soccer, especially if they have heavy support in American Football present. Ever since the foundation of the Association, "Football" has risen in popularity, becoming one of the best love games in the history of Earth. Now, hundreds of thousands play the sport, although it lacks the initial violence present at its creation.
About The Author
Rebecca Blain is a professional and hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her fish and educating people about soccer equipment such as goals which you can read about here:
King Henry VIII’s football boots were listed within the Great Wardrobe of 1526, a shopping list of the day. They were made by his personal shoemaker Cornelius Johnson in 1525, at a cost of 4 shillings, the equivalent of £100 in today’s money. Little is known about them, as there is no surviving example, but the royal football boots are known to have been made of strong leather, ankle high and heavier than the normal shoe of the day.
Football Boots - The 1800’s
Moving forward 300 years saw football developing and gaining popularity throughout Britain, but still remaining as an unstructured and informal pastime, with teams representing local factories and villages in a burgeoning industrial nation. Players would wear their hard, leather work boots, which were long laced and steel toe-capped as the first football boots. These football boots would also have metal studs or tacks hammered into them to increase ground grip and stability.
As laws become integrated into the game in the late 1800’s, so saw the first shift in football boots to a slipper (or soccus) style shoe, with players of the same team starting to wear the same boots for the first time. Laws also allowed for studs, which had to be rounded. These leather studs, also known as cleats, were hammered into the early football boots, which for the first time moved away from the earlier favoured work boots. These football boots weighed 500g and were made of thick, hard leather going up the ankle for increased protection. The football boots would double in weight when wet and had six studs in the sole. The football boot had arrived…
Football Boots - The 1900’s to 1940’s
Football boot styles remained relatively constant throughout the 1900’s up to the end of the second world war. The most significant events in the football boot world in the first part of the twentieth century were the formation of several football boot producers who are still making football boots today, including Gola (1905), Valsport (1920) and Danish football boot maker Hummel (1923).
Over in Germany, Dassler brothers Adolf and Rudolf formed the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) in Herzogenaurach in 1924 and began producing football boots in 1925 which had 6 or 7 replaceable, nailed studs, which could be changed according to the weather conditions of play.
Football boot styles shifted significantly after the end of the second world war, as air travel became cheaper and more international fixtures were played. This saw the lighter, more flexible football boot being worn by the South Americans being thrust onto the world stage, and their ball skills and technical ability amazed all those that watched them. Football boot production shifted to producing a lighter football boot with the focus on kicking and controlling the ball rather than simply producing a piece of protective footwear.
1948 saw the formation of the Adidas company by Adolf (Adi) Dassler after a falling out with his brother that was to form the cornerstone of football boot maker rivalry for the preceding years up to today. Brother Rudolf founded the beginnings of the Puma company in 1948, quickly producing the Puma Atom football boot. This led to interchangeable screw in studs made of plastic or rubber for the first time, reputedly by Puma in the early 1950’s but the honour is also claimed by Adidas (Read the Story on Footy-Boots). Football boots of the time were still over the ankle, but were now being made of a mixture of synthetic materials and leather, producing and even lighter shoe for the players of the day to display their skills with.
Football Boots - The 1960’s
The technological developments of the sixties bought a momentous step-change in design which saw the lower cut design introduced for the first time in football history. This change allowed players to move faster and saw the likes of Pele wearing Puma football boots in the 1962 World Cup Finals. Adidas, though, quickly emerged as the market leader, a position it claims until the present day. In the World Cup Finals of 1966, an astonishing 75% of players wore the Adidas football boot.
The 1960’s also saw several other football boot makers joining the market with their own brands and styling including Mitre (1960), Joma (1965) and Asics (1964).
Football Boots - The 1970’s
The seventies began with the iconic 1970 World Cup Finals which saw a sublime Brazilian team lift the trophy with Pele again at the helm, this time wearing the Puma King football boot. The decade itself will be remembered for the way in which football boot sponsorship took off, where players were being paid to wear only one brand. In terms of design and style, technological advancements produced lighter boots, and a variety of colours, including for the first time, the all-white football boot.
In 1979, Adidas produced the world’s best selling football boot the Copa Mundial, built of kangaroo leather and built for speed and versatility. Although Adidas remained dominant, several other football boot makers joined the fray including Italian football boot maker Diadora (1977).
Football Boots - The 1980’s
The greatest development of recent times in the design and technology of football boots was developed in the eighties by former player Craig Johnston, who created the Predator football boot, which was eventually released by Adidas in the 1990’s. Johnston designed the Predator to provide greater traction between football boot and the ball, and football boot and the ground. The design allowed for greater surface areas to come into contact with the ball when being hit by the football boot, with a series of power and swerve zones within the striking area allowing the player to create greater power and swerve when hitting the “sweet spots”. The eighties also saw football boots for the first time being made by English company Umbro (1985), Italy’s Lotto and Spain’s Kelme (1982).
Football Boots - 1990’s
1994 saw Adidas release the Craig Johnston designed Predator with its revolutionary design, styling and technology making it an instant and lasting success. The Predator by now featured polymer extrusion technologies and materials allowing for a more flexible sole as well as the conventional studs being replaced by a bladed design covering the sole, giving a more stable base for the player. In 1995 Adidas released their bladed outsole traxion technology which are tapered shaped blades. Puma hit back in 1996 with a foam-free midsole football boot, known as Puma Cell Technology, to which Adidas responded again, this time with wedge shaped studs in the same year. The nineties saw new football boot producers Mizuno release their Mizuno Wave in 1997. Other new football boots came from Reebok (1992) and Uhlsport (1993) with other companies also joining the ever increasing, lucrative and competitive market place. Most significantly the nineties saw the entry of Nike, the world’s biggest sportswear producer, immediately making an impact with its Nike Mercurial soccer boot (1998), weighing in at just 200g.
Football Boots - 2000+
As technology advanced still further, the application of the new research and developments were seen in the years into the new millennium right up to the present day and this has led to a reinforcement of the market positions of the big three football boot makers and sellers, Puma, Nike and Adidas (incorporating Reebok since 2006). Fortunately, there still remains room in the market place for the smaller producer that does not have the big money endorsement contracts at its disposal, such as Mizuno, Diadora, Lotto, Hummel and Nomis.
Recent developments since 2000 have seen the Nomis Wet control technology producing a sticky boot (2002), the Craig Johnston Pig Boot (2003), shark technology by Kelme (2006) and the exceptional design of the Lotto Zhero Gravity laceless football boots (2006) all of which underpin the successes that these smaller makers can achieve by producing specialised and technologically advanced football boots that provide a distinct differentiation from the mass produced products of the big three. Laser technology has also helped to produce the world’s first fully customised football by Prior 2 Lever, which is perhaps the most exciting and innovative of the recent developments.
Current favourite football boots include Adidas’ F50, Tunit and Predator; Nike’s Mercurial Vapor III, Air Zoom Total 90s and Tiempo Ronaldinho, Reebok Pro Rage and Umbro X Boots.
Football Boots - The Future
As the debate rages with regards the lack of protection given by modern football boots, and the repercussion in terms of player injuries, there seems little to suggest that the major manufacturers are going to give up their quest for the lightest football boot for a more protective one. The proliferation of big money sponsorship deals, namely Nike Ronaldinho, Adidas with David Beckham and Reebok with Thierry Henry, has become a huge factor that drives the success and sales of a football boot maker, but is viewed as at a cost of injury and stagnation in football boot research and development. All we can predict for the future is integration with sensor technology, lighter and more powerful football boots and more outlandish designs and styles.
Football boots have travelled a long way since King Henry strutted onto the fields of England in the 1500’s: the football boot has gone from an everyday protective apparel to a highly designed and cutting edge technological product which is a vital part of the player’s equipment. Whatever the colour, the design, the style or the player - we love footy boots!
