The Shield for Men Sportfans Soccer Anytime, Anywhere, No Sweat soccer contest will kick off in a unique sports field which contrasts any known sporting field in the country. According to Nico fourie of Stage Magic, which built the dome like structure, the sport will be played in a smaller field where fast and furious games are governed by rules that challenge the soccer convention. She says: The games to take place in the dome will be contained by black nylon netting, which covers the entire structure. The ball will stay inside the Shield dome at all times and spectators will support their teams from outside the sporting field.

Competitors will put their skills against one another in the portable and flexible 11,5m by 19m dome, which weighs in at a whopping 1600kg.
Competitors will pit their skills against one another in the portable and flexible 11,5m by 19m dome, which weighs in at a whopping 1600kg. The dome structured field will be transported from one venue to the next in an eight-ton truck mounted with a crane. The structure, which is made out of steel, is supported on 12 massive legs and takes a crew of eight about eight to ten hours to assemble.

The dome has been constructed to allow it to fit into unusual venues such as shopping centres and television studios. The dome is a compact and sleek engineering and architectural feat,î says Fourie. A segment of the roof has space for branding and the entire construction stands on temporary flooring. In addition, a scoreboard with two digital clocks has also been created to accompany the dome and stands outside the structure.

Soccer teams are encouraged to pick up entry forms at their nearest Shoprite to participate in the exciting soccer event which will take place throughout South Africa between May and September 2009. There are six players from each team who are allowed to participate (four on the field, two on the bench).

As soon as the teams are selected, the first round of the games will commence in May in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape before moving to the other regions. Each region will have two days of qualifying rounds and play-offs at different venues and one team from each region will go through to the national finals. There is a whopping R400 000 in prize-money for the winning team.

The soccer games will be non-stop action with the focus of freestyle soccer skills.The new rules devised for the games mean no throw-ins, no offside, no goal kicks, just pure passing, kicking and scoring goals for 60 minutes. Unilever head of public affairs, Ethne Whitley, says not having conventional rules allows soccer players to be more creative in their play. The teams that make it to the finals are likely to be the fittest and most inventive in their play, she says.

Shield will be keeping an eye open for exceptional players and teams, whose skills and talents will be showcased to the nation via a 13-part television series starting in June 2009. Other attractions at each event include exhibitions and players will be expected to dazzle spectators with their skills. There will also be prizes to be won by spetators who enter the competition.