The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has clarified the mix-up in kit for the players and technical bench in the 2-1 win over Portugal in a Group C match.
Following the signing of a two year SHIRT deal with MAFRO the Association has had to deal with last minute switch in kit from the old Kappa strip to the new one.
FAZ Communications Manager Desmond Katongo said that the technical bench was donned in Kappa attire following the last minute changes FIFA directed to be made to the new kit leaving out the rest of the complement to be worked on later.
Katongo has however indicated that the team will be in uniform kit on Wednesday during the second Group C match against Iran.
Zambia beat Portugal 2-1 to top Group C ahead of Iran on match day one.
BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT:
PRESS STATEMENT (For Immediate Release)
Football House, Lusaka
May 21st, 2017
Zambia U-20 Men’s National team kit
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Zambia Men’s U-20 National team on their 2 -1 victory against Portugal at the on-going Fifa 2017, South Korea World Cup.
FAZ takes great pride in the successful manner in which the U20 team and the technical bench have continued to represent the country at both continental and global level.
The Association has signed a 2-year deal worth USD200,000 cash and kit for the national team with MAFRO who have now become the official kit supplier of the Zambia National team.
The completion of our deal with MAFRO has been an on-going process and was only formalizedjust before the World Cup.
The use of KAPPA kit by the technical staff was as a result of Fifa’s directive that the original design with copper bullets on the side be changed and the bullets completely removed. Despite the efforts of the supplier to meet the requirement, it was not possible in the time available. Consequently, the technical bench had to wear the existing KAPPA kit.
The new kit for the technical bench with the recommended adjustments will be made available for the next game.
For and on behalf of:
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA
Desmond Katongo
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Nice kit though.
With bullets pictures on jersey? That’s stupid indeed
What about asernal with a gun?
Those are not bullet pictures, thats the symbol for Mafro… My only concern is the sponsor itself. After scanning their website, i have discovered that these guys only dress madalas football
It really portrayed highest order of unprofessionalism & I am glad FAZ has issued a statement.
What is the issue here. I do not see anything wrong with the copper bullet issue. If that is what FIFA is concerned about then it is them who are blockheads.They ought to scan the world of soccer and see what teams have on their kits to signify different phenomena. Emblems for the teams are worse.They have spears, bones of humans and so on. Dont tell me they are only clubs in their respective countries because FIFA is the only umbrella and mother body. What is FIFA’s point anyway…..is it something to do with the copper bullets not being sponsors of the team?
Agree with Sly..what’s wrong with bullets? Its just a symbol… if it ads to the spectacle then I see no harm… would have been very interesting the new design.. something revolutionary….
At least they are trying to innovate and I give them credit. Perfection is always an evolution…
Lets have some consistency – can we go back to the legendary copper and black shorts. These guys have also produce orange not like the copper done by reebok in 1996 or addidas in the 80s or even el-sporto. anyway, we finally have an official kit sponsor. well done faz.
nice kirt although I don’t like white for Chipolopolo coz our colours are green,black,orange & red,now I don’t know white okobaifumya,be like south africa,Nigeria, ivory coast, Morocco etc,tawakasange bafwala other colour apart from their traditional colours.
Shorts should just be black chapwa !
Please bring back the jersey we had when the seniors won the AFCON cup in 2012.