PUMA sponsors the Eton v Harrow football match on Saturday 20th February at the Jebel Ali Soccer School of Excellence, as part of their International Love = Football campaign running in 2010.
The Love = Football campaign has launched as part of PUMA’s initiatives for the football category during 2010; the World Cup™ year. As sponsors of the Old Boys football match - both teams will be wearing PUMA football apparel branded with the PUMA Love = Football logo, as well as playing with a PUMA Powercat football . The Powercat is 5% faster than the leading competitor ball in speed testing, and with twin layer foam, high frequency moulding and unique 20 panel construction offers a softer touch and improved ball control.
At PUMA, football is more than a sport - it's a way of life. That's why the brand incorporates the game's fundamental values into every product they create and support, because after all, love equals football.
The Eton v Harrow sporting rivalry is perhaps the oldest in the world with the cricket fixture between the two schools dating back to 1805. Lord Byron took part in an early encounter and since then generations have carried on the tradition. Football as we know it today was arguably invented on the playing fields of Eton and the other public schools of the mid-19th Century. When the Football Association was established in 1863, both schools were represented and the Old Etonians went on to win the FA Cup twice - which was initiated by CW Alcock, an Old Harrovian, who was the man responsible for the first ever International football match and is credited with orchestrating the FA Cup. Once football as a sport turned professional, attention largely shifted from the founding institutions but by no means have the fixtures become any less competitive. With HRH Prince William, an Old Etonian, now President of the Football Association, the link with the present day and the game's roots is now rightly restored.
The sporting tradition will be continued in Dubai with a 12:30 kick-off on Saturday 20th February when Eton, captained by Tom Hudson, will play Harrow, captained by Zulf Hyatt-Khan at the Jebel Ali Soccer School of Excellence, sponsored by PUMA. This is the first time that the Eton v Harrow Football Match will be played outside the UK and a great addition to Dubai's sporting calendar.
