Football Media

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The International Friendly Soccer Match Between the National Teams of El Salvador and Guatemala Proved that Central American Soccer is Stronger than Ever

The “Clasico Centroamericano” Last Sunday, July 20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Broke Attendance Records

Traffic Sports USA, announced today the positive results regarding the International Friendly soccer match between the Salvadoran and Guatemalan national teams held last Sunday, July 20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

More than 37,000 fans poured into the Coliseum to cheer on their respective national sides in the “Clasico Centroamericano” leading several media to qualify the match as one of the top exhibition matches held in the United States in the last 20 years. The Central American population is one of the largest in the United States at over 5 million people.

“Soccer continues to grow by leaps and bounds in the United States. The USL (United Soccer Leagues), MLS (Major League Soccer), Champions League, official club games, and International Exhibition soccer games are proof that the market wants soccer… good soccer. The exhibition games held by the Mexican National Team in the United States have been extremely successful commercially during the last years, but the Mexican team is not the only one that has a significant and passionate fan base in the United States,” stated Enrique Sanz de Santamaria, Vice President of Traffic Sports Marketing. “We are very excited with the way Central American fans responded and we have proven, once again, that these markets respond with loyalty to their respective National Teams. It is important that potential sponsors as well as anyone involved in the soccer industry is aware of the potential and massive following of Central American teams. These are first-rate events,” he concluded.

For this match, Traffic Sports Marketing retained the services of Primetime Group, a Hispanic Marketing Agency based in Los Angeles which specializes in sports and entertainment. As part of the promotional campaign for this match, two giant flags (30 by 60 feet each) were produced and painted by each community. More than 5,000 fans and local celebrities participated signing the soccer flags at a well-known local park. The flags were then displayed during the match and will be presented as gifts to the respective countries. Furthermore, each team held an open practice in the heart of the Central American community in Los Angeles with an estimated 8,000 fans attending the practices. In addition to all of the fans, many sponsors supported the match and benefited from all of the promotional activities that surrounded the event.

In the next stage of the CONCACAF 2010 World Cup Qualifying, El Salvador will be participating in GROUP C versus Costa Rica, Haiti, and Surinam. Guatemala will be in GROUP A where it will face the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba. Traffic Sports owns the Closed Circuit television rights for the majority of these games in the United States which presents a great opportunity for sponsors targeting the U.S. Hispanic market.

Source: Traffic Sports USA

FIFA World Player of the Year (2007) to Promote Sony High Definition Products Globally

Sony Corporation today announced that Sony Latin America, Inc has signed a worldwide endorsement contract with Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, better known as Kaká, FIFA’s 2007 World Player of the Year.

Kaká, renowned all over the world for his skill with a football, but especially in Europe and South America where football is an abiding passion, will globally promote Sony’s High Definition (HD) products and a wide range of other Sony products.

Sony believes Kaká’s great success and global visibility at the pinnacle of one of the world’s most popular sports will help to further promote Sony’s “HD experience” encompassing HD products, such as Bravia LCD TV, Blu-ray Disc player/recorder, HandycamTM, and Cyber-shotTM.

Sony plans to feature Kaká in various HD promotions, including a range of television commercials and web productions.

Kaká’s total commitment to top quality football is in perfect harmony with Sony’s never-ending commitment to deliver the ultimate in quality HD experience. To share the dreams, emotions and happiness that HD images bring to people all over the world, Sony will partner with Kaká to promote its portfolio of HD products.

Sony’s long standing commitment to football was formalized in April 2005 when Sony signed an eight-year global partnership program contract with FIFA. Sony has been active as a FIFA official partner since January 2007.

* Handycam and Cyber-shot are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation.

Profile Summary of Kaká

- Full name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
- Nickname: Kaká
- Current Club: Italian Serie A Club A.C. Milan
- Date of birth: April 22, 1982
- Place of birth: Brasília, Brazil
- Height / Weight: 187cm (6 ft 1 in) / 73kg (161 lb)
- Nationality: Brazil, Italy (dual citizenship)
- Dominant foot: Right

Besides being awarded the “Ballon d’Or” (French for “Golden Ball”) given to the best footballer of the year by the magazine France Football and chosen the World Player of the Year by FIFPro (a worldwide representative organization for professional football players), Kaká has served as an Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations’ World Food Programme since November 2004.

Major Honors

• 2002: Revista Placar Bola de Ouro (Brazilian National Championship MVP)

• 2005: UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder

• 2007: -UEFA Champions League Top Scorer & Best Forward

• Ballon d’Or

• FIFA World Player of the Year

• FIFPro World Player of the Year

• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball

Source: Sony Corporation

Draws for qualifying rounds to be held at UEFA Headquarters on 01 August

The draw for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League 2008/09 and of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup 2008/09 will take place on Friday 01 August. The pairings for these stages of the two club competitions will be made during ceremonies to be staged at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, starting at 12.00 and 13.00 CET respectively.

The draws will be conducted by UEFA General Secretary David Taylor and UEFA Director of Competitions Giorgio Marchetti. The seedings and exact draw procedures, including the geographical groups in the
case of the UEFA Cup, will be communicated on the morning of the draw.

Media representatives wishing to attend these draws have to apply via e-mail to accreditations@uefa.ch before Thursday 31 July midday.

Due to the number of club representatives expected for the draws, only photographers and a restricted number of cameramen will be allowed to attend the draw in the auditorium, with access being granted on a first-come-first-served basis. A sound system will be installed in the Auditorium for ENG crews.

Due to interference problems, it is recommended for sound engineers not to use the following frequencies while in the House of European Football: 783.875 MHz, 786.125 MHz, 782.500 MHz, 782.875 MHz, 784.625 MHz, 785.250 MHz, 792.500 MHz and 794.875 MHz.

Both draws will be transmitted live on uefa.com and on Eurosport.