“Superman” Ibrahima Sonko... Soccer Player with Style
Sports and style intermingled product Ibrahima Sonko, a “football” player from the Uk, has the super power of flying on the field to hit a ball with his head, yet that is not his only power. Sonko also has the power of style. His laser beam eye spots fashion forward trends from a mile a way.
“I do like the Italian designers like Dolce Gabbana , Armani and Gucci but I also like Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen. These are the main brands competing for space in my wardrobe”Ibrahima Sonko
In the sports world, we inevitably run across male athletes who are as easy on the eyes and who’s bodies are sculpted from being talented at what they do. For many, that means a spread in a magazine at some point. For others, it can mean longevity in their career, In Sonko’s case, he has been blessed with both.
Sonko started his career at Saint-Étienne in France, before moving to Grenoble. He then joined English club Brentford in 2002, before leaving to join Reading on a Bosman transfer in 2004. He clearly became the fans favorite; when nicknamed “Superman” for his colossal leaps into the air, which powerfully head bunts the ball away. "Sonko - Superman" T-shirts have been made available by the foot ball cub Reading.
It’s not his own clothing line but could have been the motivating factor for Armour to feature Sonko in a national ad campaign for their sports brand Under Armour.
“In a lot of ways, athletes have become the new celebrities for fashion houses,’’ fashion consultant Robert Burke
Getting Intimate with Ibrahima Sonko
Q: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
A: I am from Senegal (West Africa) originaly but grew up in France. I was born in a small village in southern Senegal called Bignona. When I was just 6months old my parents relocated to France, Paris to be precise, because they knew it would offer a better life for us all, a decision I know was hard for them, but I am proud they did it.
Q: How long have you played football [soccer]? Do your fans have a nickname for you and why?
A: I've been playing football [soccer] all my life. According to my my mum, when I took my first steps a ball was involved, basically a ball rolled next to me and I held it with both hands and tried to stand up and walk away with it . I didn't get far apparently [lol], I still wonder why.. But my early memories of really playing football was when I started at club level, I must have been about 5 years old and still hanging on to that ball. I started playing professionally in France and moved to England in 2002. I was given the nickname "SUPERMAN" whilst at Reading FC because of my ability of putting my body on the line with no fear, and when you see me jumping for headers you'll understand why! It sometimes looks like I'm flying compared to the other players around me.
Q: What is your position? What team do you play for?
A: What's my position? WOW now this interview is getting very personal, lol, do you really want to know??? Just kidding. I play central defense, that's the last line of defense between the attacking team and goalkeeper. That's were the hard men stand ;-)
Q: Who is your favorite sun glass designers ?
A: The one that fit me best [lol] or the ones I haven't lost. Usually I just walk into a shop and keep trying them on until I'm satisfied . But when I go sun glass shopping I always come out with 2 or 3 different brands that suit me .
Q: Who are your favorite clothing designers and why?
A: I don't think I have a favorite designer. I do like the Italian designers like Dolce Gabbana , Armani and Gucci but I also like Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen. These are the main brands competing for space in my wardrobe. I went to the Ozwald Boateng show at London Fashion Week a few months ago, and when I saw he'd added a casual line to his collection it's only a matter of time before that will also be added to my collection! I've always admired his more formal clothing range but he blew me away at his show with this new collection .
P.s Ozwald if you are reading this, thank you again for the invite my man, much appreciated.
P.P.S. I'm a bit of a shopaholic, I can be worst than some woman at times!
Q: Do you plan on modeling? Have you modeled before and for who?
A: I would love to model properly one day, it's kind of one of my hobbies [posing and trying clothes] . The only bit of that I have done has been for charity campaigns, and I admit I really enjoyed it . I did feature in an ad campaign for the sports brand Under Armour while playing soccer at Reading FC . This was a national campaign so you could see my head and body in every sports shop up and down the country . I love the footwear brand Radii who do very stylish sneakers . They are ultra comfy, loads of different styles including high tops so they can be worn in different situations. Radii has got a picture of me wearing the footwear on their official website too.
Q: How does being an athlete effect your fashion style? Do the clothes fit you better, do designers give you free clothes?
A: Doing sports certainly helps. I'm a tall guy and obviously take good care of myself which helps with designer clothes . I love fitted cloths I always make sure they fit my body to perfection before I get them. I often spend hours in shops asking them to modify and tailor jackets and shirts so they hand right, if I'm buying I like to make sure they suit me properly . So unless you are EXACTLY my size , I mean down to my ankles I'm sorry but can not borrow my clothes from me . Haha I love it .
Q: Out of your team mates would you say you is(are) the most stylish and why?
A: Out of my team mates the one who stand out is John Utaka . He's got that French swagga too, and knows how to show it with his clothes. Like me , he's into his fashion and loves shopping . We often shop together and it's always a disaster for us, and great for the shops, imagine a male version of the Pretty Women scene on Rodeo Drive [lol] . Another player I'll point out who's got a bit of swagga is David Nugent . Different style to us but he's got a good range of clothes, and a lot of it is Dolce Gabbana, that's probably why I like it [lol] . But no jokes he does dress smart .
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| The A-Team and Ibrahima Sonko in Miami |
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| Princess Jazzmine, Ibrahima Sonko, Me, Daveeka-Sade |
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| A-Team and Ibrahima Sonko in England |
“Overall I love fashion from sun glasses to gloves, shirts to classic shoes and watches to sneakers, I love it all. I'm planning on push the modeling side a bit more so who knows maybe you'll see me a bit more soon” ;-) Ibrahima Sonko
Ibrahima Sonko: philanthropist, supreme athlete, model, trend setter, undercover fashionista, and super hero! When Sonko isn’t getting a quick fix for his shopoholicism; he’s being a super hero on the soccer field as a “FootBaller.” Currently he is on loan at Portsmouth and humbly made his debut in a 2-0 defeat away to Coventry on August 7, 2010, and scored his first goal for Portsmouth on October 30, 2010 against Nottingham Forest. He is clearly a man of many hats, and is finding time to successfully wear all them.
EA sports video game being tested out by Ibrahima Sonko
(rocking a pair of white and gold Louis vuitton sunglasses)
If you want to see more of Mr. Sonko:
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