Nike, Kappa, Adidas and Puma in bidding war to become SA’s official kit supplier- Who should SAFA choose?

by Nomonde Simelane

The stakes are incredibly high as major brands Nike, Puma, Adidas and Kappa have put their names in the running to become South Africa’s next official sports kit supplier for various sporting codes including Bafana Bafana.

With South African sports making significant improvements in terms of performance across various sporting codes, and Le Coq Sportif’s five-year contract with Bafana Bafana reaching its expiration this December, the South African Football Association has much to deliberate when it comes to making a decision on their kit supplier, as both players and fans have voiced concerns with Le Coq’s current efforts.

Earlier this month, the French brand filed for bankruptcy after struggling financially for months, which has added to the concerns that mzansi had. A high-ranking source revealed to Sportswire that although both SAFA and Le Coq will convene to discuss a way forward, SAFA will likely opt for a different supplier due to the poor service experienced during their five-year contract.

Other major companies such as Adidas, Puma, Nike and Kappa are foaming at their mouths to be granted the opportunity to supply Bafana Bafana and other sporting codes with their kits. The decision will not be an easy one for SAFA as each of these big brands already sponsors some notable teams, and the opportunity to bag SAFA will be significant for whoever will emerge victorious as the demand for merchandise is set to be at an all-time high as various teams continue to improve and draw more eyes.

Some users have expressed their opinions on who deserves to be awarded this important tender, as it will determine which emblem they will don when supporting their national teams. Some users have passionately advocated for Adidas to be the chosen ones as they never miss a beat when it comes to providing great quality kits with aesthetics that are equally as good.

Other users have revealed a need for more local brands such as MaXhosa by Laduma and Thebe Magugu to stand up and put their names forward for consideration as this would be more meaningful than using international brands who do not have South Africa’s best interests at heart.

Lastly, some users passionately believe that SAFA should give Le Coq another chance as all the brands that have expressed interest in being the next sponsors all turned their backs on Bafana Bafana years ago during some difficult times. According to these users, Le Coq took a chance and believed in South Africa when no one else did, and should therefore be rewarded for their loyalty.

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