My Kickabout with the Nivia Black and White
Alright, so my old football finally gave up the ghost. Split right open after hitting the fence post one too many times. Needed a replacement, nothing fancy, just something reliable for a kickabout down at the park.
I ended up grabbing one of those Nivia balls, the classic black and white panel design. You know the type. Looked decent enough and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. It arrived flat, obviously, so the first job was getting the pump out.
Pumping it Up
Took a bit of air, felt pretty standard. The valve seemed okay, no immediate hissing which is always a good sign. Got it pumped up to what felt like the right pressure, nice and firm but with a little give.
First Impressions and Play
Took it down to the usual spot. First few kicks felt alright. It’s got a predictable kind of feel, not too light, not ridiculously heavy. Just sort of… normal. Which is fine by me, honestly. Didn’t want some weird flighty thing.
- Kicking: Felt solid off the boot. You get a decent connection when you strike it clean.
- Bounce: Pretty standard bounce on grass, maybe a touch hard on concrete but that’s expected.
- Control: Seemed okay for trapping and basic dribbling. The surface isn’t super grippy but it’s not slick either.
We had a small game, just jumpers for goalposts. The ball held up fine. It flew reasonably true when passed or shot, no weird wobbles unless you completely scuffed the kick, but that’s on the player, not the ball.
How’s it Holding Up?
Used it a few times now over the last couple of weeks. It’s picked up the usual scuffs and grass stains, obviously. That shiny finish it had out of the box is long gone, but structurally it seems sound. It’s holding air well, haven’t needed to top it up yet which is a big plus. Some cheap balls lose pressure like crazy.
Final Thoughts
Look, it’s a basic football. It does the job it’s supposed to do. It’s black and white, round, and you can kick it. For the price I paid, I can’t really complain. It feels durable enough for casual park games. If you’re looking for a pro-level match ball, this probably ain’t it. But if you just need something reliable to kick around with your mates without worrying too much if it gets battered, yeah, it’s perfectly decent. Does what it says on the tin, really.
