Sporteum takes piece of WC action

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines hasn’t been to the world’s biggest stage in football but the 2010 FIFA World Cup fever will nevertheless reach local soil with its merchandise.

Sporteum Philippines Inc. has manufactured the replicas of jerseys and apparel of the 32 participating countries in the World Cup, a month-long football festival in South Africa which kicked off on June 11.

Reigning champion Italy, which captured the 2006 edition in Germany, will defend its crown against host South Africa and traditional powerhouse teams England, Brazil, Argentina, France and Germany.

Apart from these countries, Sporteum president Willie Ortiz said their company also came up with the jersey designs of the United States, South Korea, Denmark, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Mexico, Australia and Japan.

``Football is the world’s most popular sport and the World Cup is its biggest tournament. Let’s bring on the excitement of these games,’’ said Ortiz.

Other countries which qualified in the quadrennial tournament similar to the magnitude of the Summer Olympics are North Korea, Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Honduras, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Greece, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The games are held at 10 venues from June 11 to July 11 in nine host cities in South Africa led by the country’s capital Johannesburg.