Set to dominate leagues around the globe, the Nike Seitiro football is the replacement for the successful and popular Nike T90 Tracer, and is the first ball since 2003/04 not to carry the T90 mark. But how does the Seitiro match up to the predecessors, and will it perform for the top players in world football?
Visually, it's quite clear the Nike Seitiro football is very different to the previous Premier League, La Liga and Serie A ball. But as with all things Nike, this hasn't happened by accident as there are genuine performance theories behind the design.
The Nike Seitiro features Nike RaDaR technology, which stands for Rapid Decisive and Response. It is a lab and field tested standard of visual performance that allows players to see the ball better. Validated on pitch with some of the best athletes in the world, the combination of graphic design and contrast creates an optimal visual signal picture on pitch. Which in short, means Nike RaDaR allows players to make faster decisions on the pitch and stay ahead of the pace of the game.
The focus is primarily on the visual key, because Nike seem to have hit upon a winning formula for ball construction, and one they've not strayed from since engineering the 2009/10 Ascente ball.
Incorporating technology to allow the ball to travel faster, longer and truer than any other ball, the synthetic casing on the Nike Seitiro ball creates a golf ball dimple effect, allowing players to have total control of the flight and movement of the ball.
he geometric precision of the Nike Seitiro Football distributes pressure evenly, for an accurate and powerful strike no matter where the ball is hit. The construction of the new Premier League, La Liga and Serie A 11/12 ball incorporates compressed polyethylene layers which store energy from impact and release it at launch. Along with cross-linked Nitrogen-Expanded Foam, Nike claim this ball will offer exceptional shape retention and durability.
Nike sets its own high quality standards for footballs bearing the swoosh, but are also overseen by FIFA's testing and certification program. A series of seven lab tests, ranging from circumference and roundness retention, to water absorption and rebound attributes ensure balls carrying the FIFA approved mark are guaranteed for consistent performance.
So where will we be able to see the new Nike Seitiro in action? Well it's first competitive outing will be during the Copa America kicking off 1st July. After this time, the Nike Seitiro football will be in action in the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga, the Asian Champions League, the Asian Cup for federations and the Copa Libertadores. The Nike Seitiro is also going to be used for the home games of the Nike Federations such as The Netherlands, France, Portugal, Brasil and Poland.
