Nike and Google have quietly launched Joga, which is an invitation-only website for soccer fans. Users can upload videos and photo albums, and create a “Starting 11” team. The term Joga stands for “joga bonito,” portuguese for “play beautiful.”
It’s interesting to see Google trying to get into the whole social networking game. They’ve tried (and pretty much failed) with Orkut, so it looks like they’re trying a different approach by teaming up with big marketing companies.
If anyone has an invite, I’d love to get it.
(via Micropersuasion)
March 20, 2006 at 5:22 pm
i love that new joga bonito tv-ad with eric cantona (especially the ronaldinho tricks)
March 21, 2006 at 9:13 am
i am only disappointed with one thing, and that is nike’s sponsorship, hence the primary featuring of brasil….in all honesty, i would rather see some of the sensational footo from africa; drogba, eto’o, okocha, appiah, martins, or even some from the past like abedi pele, weah, mboma, diouf, kanu, hadji…but you won’t see many of them because they are mostly puma sponsored….
March 31, 2006 at 11:55 am
Perhaps Nike and Google could consider to participate in the following before Adidas or Puma take the lead. Curious who is most socialy engaged of them!
AFRICA FOOTBALL ACADEMY
Perhaps Brazil has the best football players in the world and Europe the richest, but Africa is the cradle of passion and joy. African players enrich the European leagues with athletic skills, technical tricks and a disarming smile. That is why everybody loves African players so much. Football is a source of pleasure and entertainment for millions unable to indulge in leisure pursuits out of the financial reach of many in Africa. Football is much more than pleasure in Africa – for the time of the game it is an escape from the problems that holds millions across the continent within its grasp. In African you do not often see the children of doctors or politicians playing the game of football. It is mainly people from the rural areas, from the small cities, from the less fortunate families. Africa
bursts from hidden talent but how to reach them.
THE AFRICAN FOOTBALL ACADEMY (AFA) DEVELOPED A FAR REACHING PLAN TO LOCATE AND SCOUT THEM IN THE PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE AND PLAY, AND TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL TO PRACTICE AND EDUCATE THEM SO THAT ONE DAY THEY CAN TAKE OFF FOR A BRIDE FUTURE IN THE EUROPEAN AND UAE FOOTBALL LEAGUES. ONLY THE VERY BEST CAN MAKE IT TO THE TOP!
In cooperation with the Africa Peace Cup Foundation and support from star players around the globe, the Africa Football Academy (AFA) proudly introduces the first in its kind Social Awareness Football Investment Fund, with the goal to establish football-schools for elite talent in (West)Africa. During a Target Market Quest, AFA professionals will judge extremely talented football players (age 15-18y) from Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone with the objective to offer 50 of them a football scholarship each year with full college education and master classes in the
Mano River Region. The lucky few receive a full time residential scholarship with a hard commitment from the Academy not only to provide the intensive full time education and practice, but also to finance the cost of living of the players entire family during the time of education. This social engagement strongly differentiates the Africa Football Academy from any other fund in this field and will generate goodwill, sympathy and support around the world.
Camera teams and other media from regional/international television stations are invited to follow this unique reality Quest for football idols – to inform, entertain and update viewers frequently of the progress made by the future ‘Stars of Africa’.
Preliminary research indicates that in 2 year time AFA would be in a position to present the first talents ready for the big step to Europe or the United Arab Emirates. This will inspire more young players to participate in next year quests and motivate investors, sponsors and advertisers to provide the required funding to successfully establish this prestigious social investment fund. The Academy’s return on investment contains commission fees on future contracts and participation from clubs, sponsors and industry.
July 12, 2006 at 11:59 am
MY NAME IS ADEBAKIN ADEDAPO,AM A PLAYER (striker) AND
I WILL LIKE TO BE come ONE OF YOUR PLAYER IN YOUR
ACADEMY AND I STILL WISH TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT, ALSO
STILL WANT TO LEAN MORE ABOUT THE FOOTBALL GAME, I
WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU .ALSO I WILL LIKE
TO KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT
?YOU CAN ALSO CALL ME :234-8033776308 .
WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY NOW.
Regrads,
ADEBAKIN.
May 1, 2009 at 5:36 pm
HELLO AFRICA FOOTBALL ACADEMY.I AM A CAMEROONIAN AND AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CAMEROON FOOTBALL FEDERATION(FECAFOOT) IMPRESSED BY YOUR MARVELOUS WORKS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING TO PROMOTE AFRICAN FOOTBALL.I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT NOT ONLY AS A FOOTBALL FANATIC,I HAVE THE GREAT PLEASURE TO PROMOTE FOOTBALL IN MY REGION BY PROVIDING A FOOTBALL ACADEMY.NOT ONLY TO PROJECT THE YOUNG TALENTED BUT LESS PRIVILEGE,BUT ALSO WITH THE AIM OF KEEPING THEM “OFF THE STREETS”.BUT WITH THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THE ACADEMY IS ACTUALLY FACING,SINCE IT IS A PRIVATE INSTITUTE, I HEREBY SEEK FOR PARTNERSHIP FROM YOUR ORGANISATION.