Football Association of Zambia president Andrew Kamanga has slammed reports that he was about to pick a low profile Asian-based sports apparel company to kit Chipolopolo.
News has been doing the rounds on social media that Kamanga’s regime had failed to secure a high-profile sports apparel firm to kit the national team and opted for an option from Asia who current kit FAZ Super Division side Nkana.
“I think there has been a lot of speculation that we have signed up with MAFRO,” Kamanga told media on Monday in Lusaka.
“The correct position is that we have not signed up with anybody. MAFRRO approached FAZ in February this year and once there was a change of administration they came back.
“Their proposal is in but we have not yet looked at as an executive so it may be a while before any decision is made.
“In any case I just wanted to also explain because there has been speculation that we have failed bring back Nike but the truth of the matter is that the Nike issue was conclusively finalized in 2014 because the contract came to an end and the previous executive did not renew it.
“In fact when we came in I made follow ups with Nike and they were very categorical that it is not going to possible for us to get Nike back simply because whatever position they had has changed.
” They can only clothe two teams in Africa so they had two slots one belonged to South Africa and the other one was with Zambia so once we had refused to sign they ended up giving that slot to Nigeria.
“So the truth of the matter is we cannot get Nike back so let us be fair as we report. It has nothing to do with our administration it was a dead matter. We are hopeful that whenever these slots open up we may be able to convince them and get back.
“Others have accused us of not even considering Adidas who as you know Adidas is an official sponsor of FIFA itself. We may or may not but we have written to Adidas as well.
“It is on record we have had no response. Others have talked about Puma it is the same story like Nike they have limited alocations for this year it is not possible to be considered even next year.
“So if you look at those three as your top kit sponsors it is almost impossible that we will have any chance of getting one of those.
“But with Nike the only window available now is for us to be buying, it is no longer a sponsorship but we will now be the ones paying for whatever we need. So will now be forced to pay as opposed to being paid because we do not have a sponsorship deal.
“We have already identified a couple of other international kit manufacturers who we are going to continue talking to and at the right time we are going to make a decision and you will all be informed.
“So nobody has signed with MAFRO and that is where the story ends and I just hope that we do not spend too much effort on things which do not exist.”
Kamanga seems to be an honest guy. In the past, most of the deals at Football House were shrouded in secrecy. This guy seems to be transparent, exactly what stakeholders want.
Why not about Mulungushi Textiles and Bata boots?
Just How good is Andrews kamanagas reponse? Excellent. But Zambians are not used. they have become natural crooks
UNDER ARMOUR!!!! TRY UNDER ARMOUR!!!!!!!!! The fastest growing sports brand in the world!!
Zed Guy, you’re the man! That would be an excellent choice as they’re a brand on the way up.
I agree. Under Armour is great, you just have to look at my EPL team Tottenham Hotspur’s kit and you will agree with me..! I have some under armour caps myself and they are just fantastic…
Brands want to be associated with winners…win matches and incorporate more youth in the team thats why..that brand clothes Totenham Hotspurs.
Good start bwana Kamanga.
However,fans have the right to seek answers to questions relating to soccer administration as there is a perceived tone of ‘These are FAZ matters.’
Next is:(1) What is involved in the Supersport deal? (2)What is the long-term plan for the Mens’ National Team Coach? (3)Who has the final say in the selection and employment of the SG (4)Why should FAZ even consider camping in South Africa when our next qualifier is in West Africa?We have had previous incidents of the team arriving on the day of the match,exhausted!
Kamanga 1 Detractors 0
But you were busy promising Heaven on Earth ngawalaba shani. Ulimuchibe
thanks for the response to the kit issue about our national team.congrats bwana president for bringing the bus to Zambia ,seven years down tne line.what a shame to the old executive.bwana president kindly clean up the mess which has been going on at football house in the last eight years.bravo mr mulongo for being transparent during your tenure of office.
I dont understand how a commercial entity like Nike can only hace two slots in the whole of Africa! Very strange.
Moze, Kamanga is saying that there are two kinds of deal one can make. One is sponsorship whereby Nike gives its regalia for free and benefits from advertising when teams are wearing their regalia. The other is where a team buys their gear. They can have two slots in Africa if tey want because they are giving for free. However, if you want to buy any country can buy any time.
So nike contract expired in 2014…so this is also true in that their present kit and replicas are simply Galus Chinese knock offs…its all starting to come out. Why not refering matters to ACC?
The Nike deal was explained a long time ago even before the elections. Problem is selective hearing….by some zedians.
When Kamanga was fighting Kalu, awe I hate him very much, now I ve come to like him for one thing, he does not like refer failures to the previous Executive. So mudala work hard and make sure you qualify our team to AFCON and World cup, ninshi wapanga ishina. Otherwise you be on fire.