The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nike

  • World number 1, Osaka signs deal with Nike

    World number one Naomi Osaka has agreed a deal with Nike, the sports apparel giant has announced.

    The Japanese, who had previously been tied to rival Adidas, will first wear Nike gear at the Stuttgart Grand Prix later this month, the U.S. sportswear maker said on its website.

    “I’m proud to become a member of the Nike family and excited about getting involved in all of the opportunities Nike has to offer,” said Osaka in the statement.

    “Nike has a legendary track record of writing history and I look forward to being a part of those moments for many years to come.”

    READ ALSO: Serena’s conqueror, Naomi Osaka is the coolest thing in tennis

    The Japanese has won the last two Grand Slams, having become the first ever Japanese player to win one of the four majors when she overcame Serena Williams at the U.S. Open in September.

    “Naomi is an incredible talent to add to our roster and help drive our commitment to inspiring a new generation of female athletes,” Nike VP Amy Montagne added in the statement.

    “We are thrilled to have her join our team.”

    Osaka’s ascent to the top of the women’s game has made her a hot marketable commodity for the world’s top brands.

    She already has deals with Japanese airline All Nippon Airways, car manufacturer Nissan and watch company Citizen, among others.

  • Ronaldo unveils monogrammed boots

    Ronaldo unveils monogrammed boots

    Cristiano Ronaldo has never been one to fade quietly into the background, and with new monogrammed, sparkling boots, he is making sure he remains front and centre.

    Nike unveiled the boots, named the ‘CR7 series – Chapter 5: Cut To Brilliance’, with a video of the Real Madrid and Portugal forward in action.

    Among the features included in the new designs are diamond-like designs over the white boots, which will sparkle when playing under lights.

    The top of the boots include multiple colours knitted into the fabric, as well as the CR7 logo – Ronaldo’s brand name – while the heel, amid more diamond-esque designs, has the date of Ronaldo’s Madrid debut emblazoned.

    Also included are the words ‘El Sueño Del Niño’ – Portuguese for ‘the dream of the child’ – which were apparently the words Ronaldo told Nike’s design team when asked to describe how he felt about joining Real.

    Ronaldo joined Real in 2009 for a then world record £80million fee. He has since broken a series of records, becoming the fastest player to score 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 league goals, as well as being the first to score against every team in La Liga in one season.

    The player himself said: ‘The details of the white boots – the colour, the diamonds – they are beautiful; they are cool. I am sure, 100 percent, people are gonna like it.

    ‘The records and numbers, they are a part of my job. I am blessed to have had great moments every year.’

    For those who want to emulate Ronaldo – and bring the sparkly boots to the Sunday league pitches of Britain, if they dare the boots go on sale on September 29.

  • Nike to launch ‘Pro Hijab’ for Muslim women in sport

    Nike to launch ‘Pro Hijab’ for Muslim women in sport

     

     

    Nike is set to launch a specially-designed hijab to help Muslim women compete in sports.

    The Nike Pro Hijab will be launched in spring 2018 in response to the increasing number of women in Islamic society ‘embracing sport’.

    The sportswear giant said it was inspired by Saudi Arabian runner Sarah Attar, who competed in the 800m race at the London 2012 Olympics wearing a hijab, and Emirati weightlifter Amna Al Haddad, who competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

    A Nike statement said: ‘The Nike Pro Hijab may have been more than a year in the making, but its impetus can be traced much further back, to an ongoing cultural shift that has seen more women than ever embracing sport.

    The Nike Pro Hijab will be launched in Spring 2018 and the firm says many female Muslim athletes had asked for the garment to be made so they could ‘perform better’

    A Nike spokesperson told Al Arabiya English they came up with the concept after Al Haddad visited its research facility at their global headquarters in Oregon, US.

    The spokesperson said: ‘We worked with Amna and a variety of other athletes to see what they needed and wanted in a performance hijab.

    ‘What we heard was that women were looking for a lightweight and breathable solution that would stay in place without concern of shifting.’

    Saudi Arabian runner Sarah Attar helped inspire Nike to make the garment after running in a hijab in the 800m race at the London 2012 Olympics

    The hijabs have been tested by Egyptian running Coach Manal Rostom and Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari, as well as ‘everyday athletes’ from the Middle East.

  • Nike Oshinowo’s new lease of life

    Nike Oshinowo’s new lease of life

    The mystery around marriages is the unpredictability of its end. The blissful outset of a marriage does not necessarily guarantee that it would be an enduring one. Former beauty queen, Nike Oshinowo, has since found that marriages don’t always turn out as romantic as authors often paint them. Her crashed marriage to Dr. Tunde Soleye no doubt threw her into emotional inertia as she was hurt like she had never known.

    But she has bounced back to life and placed the past firmly where it belongs. She is currently full of life, exhuming a kind of exuberance that many cannot help but admire.  Although she has gone ahead to concentrate on her social life, it is apparent that the unfortunate end of her marriage left a scar on her heart that time has not been able to erase.

    But Nike is not a quitter. Her talk show is thriving and she is getting by just fine.

  • Nike ‘art gallery’ Okundaye for Ogidi Day

    Activities lined up for the annual Ogidi Day celebration has begun.

    It includes an exhibition of the works of iconic batik artist, Mrs. Nike Okundaye and a medical outreach to be conducted by Ripples Charity, a United Kingdom based organisation.

    Over 1,000 persons are expected to benefit from the free medical tests and drugs.

    National Public Relations Officer of the Ogidi Development Union, Mr. Oladipo Akande said the works of 45 other artists in will also feature at the exhibition.

    The Director-General, National Gallery of Art, Mr. Abdullahi Muku is expected to declare the exhibition open.

    The grand finale, which will hold on June 20, will be co-chaired by Senator Dino Melaye and Mrs. Modupe Jemibewon.

    The programme will hold at the Community Hall Grounds, Agegbe, and it will feature a display of the community’s rich cultural heritage, the presentation and blessing of the new yam, as well as performances by visiting cultural troupes from Lagos, Osun and Ondo States.

    An appeal fund for the rehabilitation of the two dilapidated secondary schools in the community as well as other decayed educational infrastructure will be launched at the event.

     

     

     

     

  • NFF, Nike reach agreement on kits’ deal

    NFF, Nike reach agreement on kits’ deal

    Nike and the Nigeria Football Federation have announced a new partnership in which Nike will design and develop football kits for the country national football teams from April 1 until at least 2018, Goal reports.

    Nigeria’s previous contract with German giants Adidas ended in December after the company decided not to renew due to contractual disagreements.

    Nike will design performance and training apparel, and equipment, including team kits and footballs, for the Nigerian national football team players at every level of the game.

    There will be an exclusive-edition team kit for all NFF teams until the 2016-17 kit launches in mid-2016.

    In addition, Nike will design an assortment of products for Nigerians to show their support for the national team, to be available from mid-2016.

    The Flying Eagles will be the first team to don the new Nike kit when Nigeria files out at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand starting May 31.

    “We are very pleased to partner with the Nigeria Football Federation, one of Africa’s premier teams,” said Laurent Payre, Nike Africa VP / General Manager. “The passion for football in Nigeria is renowned and Nike is committed to supporting and advancing the game at all levels through inspiration and innovation for young men and women.”

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick said, “This exciting partnership with Nike signifies our commitment towards building and strengthening a successful football future in Nigeria. The game enjoys a huge following across the country and we want to fuel participation and ultimately the success of our future national teams.”

    The partnership includes the following elements: supplying performance and training kits to all nine of the NFF teams at every level, including the men’s and women’s senior teams, men’s and women’s under-20 teams, men’s and women’s under-17 teams, men’s and women’s Olympic teams, and the men’s beach football team.

    Nigeria joins Nike’s portfolio of federation sponsorships including Australia, Brazil, England, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, the United States and others.

  • NFF chief hits London for Nike deal

    NFF chief hits London for Nike deal

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick is expected to travel to London today to finalise arrangements with kit company NIKE.

    The NFF boss told Sportinglife that talks have reached advanced stage with the kit manufacturing company to become the official kitting company for the Nigerian teams.

    It would be recalled that the contract, which the NFF had with ADDIDAS had expired in December 2014, and the Germany based kit company decided not to renew the contract following breakdown of certain aspects of the contract from the Federation staff.

    The Addidas contract was signed by the Ibrahim Galadima administration, and was improved upon by the Sani Lulu administration, which was  built upon by the Aminu Maigari regime, before it was terminated last December. NIKE was the first major company that was kitting the Super Eagles before 2002.

    The NFF President is expected to hold discussions with the new kit company on Wednesday before returning to the country. He was accompanied on the trip by NFF Director of Marketing, Idris Adama.

  • Nike ends Manchester United kit deal after 13 years

    Nike is ending a 13-year deal to manufacture Manchester United’s football kit.

    In a statement, the American sportswear company said “the terms that were on offer for a renewed contract did not represent good value for Nike’s shareholders”.

    It is thought that either Germany’s Adidas or Warrior will replace them.

    Manchester United did not qualify for this season’s Champions League for the first time in 19 years.

    The club suffered its worst ever Premier League finish last season after manager Sir Alex Ferguson left following 26 years in the job.

    His successor, David Moyes, lasted just 10 months and Dutch manager Louis van Gaal takes over following the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign.

    Nike first signed the deal with the club in 2002 and on Monday unveiled a new kit for the 2014-15 season. It will be the last one bearing the Nike logo.

    Nike said: “Manchester United is a great club with passionate fans.”

  • I still find time to sew my dress

    I still find time to sew my dress

    WHEN Serena Williams walks into the Imperial Suite at The St. Regis on Fifth Avenue, it’s impossible to notice anyone else. In total, there are nine of us – publicists, hotel staff, two photographers, a trainer- but her presence is so powerful, everyone fades into the background. Her chiselled legs are prominently displayed in a lace mini-dress, and with the help of four-inch black suede stilettos, she stands at about 6-foot-1. Her mane is a wild-but-not-unruly labyrinth of tiny uniform curls. She’s profoundly intimidating.

    But Williams introduces herself with a whisper: “Nice to meet you,” she says, with a handshake. Her gentle demeanour is somewhat at odds with the sometimes explosive, unstoppable force we see on the tennis court. It is needless to say that Serena is literally the best female tennis player in the universe.

    Williams took some time to chat candidly about privacy, body image, her clothing lines for HSN and Nike and her thoughts on retirement.

    What’s your routine like on the day of a big match?

    If I’m playing at night, I go to the gym in the morning and then just relax. I try not to think about the match, but of course, it’s all I can think about.

    Is there a specific meal you always eat before you play?

    I’m not really a superstitious person, so I always try to mix it up. I’ve been trying to eat a lot healthier- lots of veggies, green juice and fish.

    Is it impossible for you to go out in public without getting recognised?

    I could never go to places like [Starbucks]-I have to send someone out for me. I really don’t like to say no to pictures, so I always end up saying yes. But if you say yes to one, then there’s 20 people asking, and then there’s 30. It’s crazy, so I’m in my room a lot. During a tournament I hardly ever leave the hotel, ever.

    You have an apartment in Paris – is it less crazy there?

    Paris used to be my safe haven. It was always a big sigh of relief for me there. I didn’t have to worry. But ever since I won Roland Garros [the French Open], I don’t really go out there. Or I go to the country.

    Do you ever wish you could live normally?

    I don’t complain about it – it’s just something you have to get used to. It’s such a humbling feeling that anyone would even watch me play. I feel so honoured, honestly, by anyone who’s a fan of mine and who appreciates me.

    So when you’re holed up in your apartment or a hotel, do you get cabin fever?

    No. I do work and watch a lot of TV. I’m a big fan of Netflix. I just saw Orange Is the New Black, but it was too violent for me. I also spend a lot of time designing. I have two collections.

    Have you always been interested in fashion?

    When I was younger, I made clothes for my dolls. My mum taught me how to sew when I was 2 or 3, so I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember.

    And you still sew?

    Yes. I had a photo shoot the other day after I won a tournament, and when I put the dress on, it ripped. So I asked someone for the sewing kit and I just sewed it up right there. Everyone couldn’t believe it. You could never tell it was broken.

    You’ve become such a strong, confident role model for women. How does that feel?

    Well, I wasn’t always confident. I just started feeling comfortable with myself about six or seven years ago. That’s why I tell people that even at 25 or 26, it’s OK if you’re feeling uncomfortable with yourself. I was too. It’s normal. I love who I am, and I encourage other people to love and embrace who they are. But it definitely wasn’t easy – it took me a while.

    Why was it difficult?

    I grew up with a lot of sisters – I was the youngest, and I was really thick. My sister Venus was so tall and slim, and just being in a society where a lot of people are really thin, it was hard. Especially as an athlete. No athlete has boobs like me. But I had to learn how to embrace myself and embrace my curves. And that’s something a lot of people can relate to.

    You’ve been working and training unbelievably hard for more than half your life. Are there ever mornings you wake up and think, I don’t feel like doing this anymore?

    Not yet. But if I do, that’ll be the day I realise that time’s up. Right now I’m having so much fun…and I’m still pretty good at what I do [laughs]. So it’s like, why not keep going? You only get this opportunity once in your life.