Future of Sport: A Global Sports Week x Viva Technology Collaboration, Will Open in June 14
12 Jun 2023 14:59
US sports gear giant Nike was caught off guard as the new sponsor of China's national soccer team and had to improvise kits and other equipment less than a week before the highly-anticipated Asian Cup campaign.
Nike struck a deal worth $16 million (100 million yuan) a year to be the team's gear supplier until 2026 after China Football Association ended its more than 30-year-old partnership with Adidas, Nike's biggest global competitor, at the end of 2014.
Nike was allowed to provide the new home shirts China will wear at the 2015 Asian Cup, featuring the traditional red color and white polo collar, while the away shirts will see a striking red vertical stripe running down and a red armband, according to Tencent Sports.
The design, though based on the golden fashion mantra "less is more", still drew criticism as some thought it was incomplete without the dragon element, the traditional Chinese totem.
Others supported Nike, arguing that the Asian Cup demand came at a short notice for Nike as usually companies get a year to start preparations for tailor-made kits for their clients.
China will kick off its Asian Cup competition with a Group B game against Saudi Arabia on Jan 10.
Chinese soccer fans, many of whom have been disheartened by the team's poor performance in past years, still pin their hopes on its better form in warm-ups and its new French coach Alain Perrin, who also sees the Asian Cup as a testing ground of his capabilities.
The men's team has often lit the fuse of public fury for their lack of spirit and energy following some fiascos, including the humiliating 5-1 defeat to a half-string Thailand team in a 2013 friendly.
Original title by China Daily :New Nike kits for China soccer team are improvised
Future of Sport: A Global Sports Week x Viva Technology Collaboration, Will Open in June 14
12 Jun 2023 14:59
Related coverage
Sichuan volleyball team to wear sponsored shirts
24 Nov 2015
Xiwang Food sponsors 2017 Montreux Volley Masters
09 Jun 2017
Industrial Bank Company Ltd inks deal with Shanghai Marathon
15 Sep 2015
Further sports cooperation of China and Spain in soccer
30 Mar 2015
CSL still have a long way to catch up with ‘big five’
30 Sep 2015
More from Yutang Sports
SportAccord 2024 - MediaAccord is ‘rare opportunity’ to meet before Paris 2024
08 Mar 2024
SportAccord Media Partners will ensure global audiences are primed with latest news in sport
02 Mar 2024
WFDF is ready to fly in Chengdu for the World Games 2025
17 Apr 2024
Interview with Thomas Lund: to follow new trends and bring younger generations to the sport
17 Jun 2024
Discover why SportAccord plays central role for Silvers in strategic partnerships
22 Feb 2024
Yutang Sports
loading...