NIKE,
Inc. and the South African Football Association (SAFA) have announced a new
partnership that will see the world’s leading sports company design and develop
football kits for the men’s and women’s South African national football teams.
The
five-year partnership commences Feb. 1, 2014, with all national teams receiving
Nike’s innovative team kits across performance, training and equipment,
including match balls.
“This
partnership signifies Nike’s deep commitment to support and advance South
African football at all levels of the game, from the national team to
grassroots football,” said Laurent Payre, General Manager, Nike Africa. “We
look forward to providing innovative product technology to help players reach
their full potential, and to helping shape the future success of South African
football.”
Nike
will provide a limited edition kit for Bafana Bafana – the men’s senior
national team – for their international friendly against Brasil in Johannesburg
on March 5, and all senior national teams competing until December 2014. The
2015-2016 kit will be unveiled in November 2014, with an assortment of
supporter-wear being available from early January 2015.
The
partnership also provides SAFA with access to the Nike Football Training Centre
in Soweto, Johannesburg – a world-class training facility built by Nike in
2010. Through Nike’s football training programs and grassroots initiatives
including The Chance, Manchester United Premier Cup and the elite training
conducted there, the SAFA technical team will have the immediate opportunity to
identify, fast track and nurture young football talent.
“We
are excited to partner with Nike and look forward to this comprehensive
partnership enabling us to focus on the progression of football. This is a
significant time for South African football as we embark on strengthening our
structures especially across development and grassroots”, said Danny Jordaan,
President, South African Football Association.
The
partnership includes the following elements:
Supplying
performance and training kits and match balls to all nine of SAFA’s national
football teams at every level, including the men’s senior and women’s senior
teams, men’s under-23, men’s and women’s under-20, men’s and women’s under-17,
men’s indoor football and men’s beach football.
