WALES: The boy from Brazil

A SPOOF football ad shot by a North Wales student on his university campus has proved a cult internet hit.

Gripped by World Cup fever, Greg Snow and his mates made a film inspired by a Nike commercial showcasing the breathtaking skills of a galaxy of Brazilian stars.

The original advert saw the boys from Brazil - including Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho - display an array of tricks and flicks in an airport departure lounge and dressing room.

Greg, 18, from Llanaber, near Barmouth, and his three pals used Manchester Metropolitan University's campus as a backdrop for their own tongue-in-cheek copycat production.

And they even set up an Internet website - www.montyfootball.com - which has attracted a staggering 250,000 hits.

The students boot their ball along corridors in their hall of residence, juggle it through canteens and trap it up trees. Even the halls' toilets feature as the lads head the ball over cubicle walls.

The five-minute film was made over three days using a digital camera.

At one point the ball helps pot a black on a pool table as it whizzes around. A student is also seen juggling the ball on his bottom.

Greg, a first-year product design and technology student and Blackburn Rovers fan, last night said he was amazed by the reaction.

He said: "We were just sitting around revising and the ad came on. We all play football for our hall of residence and thought it would be a bit of a laugh to do our own."

Nike's latest dressing room ad is part of Eric Cantona's Joga Bonito campaign to encourage people all over the world to "play beautiful" football.

The students dubbed their offering " Joga Bonito- Mancunian style" and hope their cult status could see them starring in a real Nike ad.

Greg said: "We love the Nike ads and some of us are quite skilful. We had a lot of fun trying out the tricks. My favourite was juggling the ball on and off the DJ's turntable without the music jumping.

"It's unbelievable how popular this video has become. We only put it on the internet because the file size was too big to email to our mates. We have had messages from all over the world, including Brazil.

"We haven't heard from Nike yet. We are hoping they might want to use us in an ad. We would be cheaper than Ronaldo."

A university spokesman said: "The students' video is highly creative and a good advert for the fun you can have coming to university."

Here is the video:

posted by nscafuro @ 6:49 AM