Kaizer Chiefs finally revealed their new kit for the 2023/24 season amid mixed reaction.
The launch of the home jersey and the green away strip has led to many football followers expressing opposing opinions, especially about the away kit.
Director and head of Kappa South Africa Ricky Joseph explained the reasoning behind this mind-boggling decision to wear a green jersey, almost similar to that of the Springboks.
He said green represents the Amakhosi nation, the roots, the earth and the country.
Chiefs and the globally renowned Italian sportswear conquered all before them when they first partnered in 1989, with Amakhosi winning a sensational quadruple of titles in the first year of their Kappa sponsorship.
The seven-year partnership spanning 1989 to 1996 was a huge success filled with glitz, glamour and glory for the club, which revolutionized South African sport as it captured the imagination of the nation.
Says Kappa’s Ricky Joseph: “As Kappa, we are proud to be part of the Amakhosi family. We are here to support the fans, to support the team.
“My message to our fans is that we don’t want them to go looking for the fake jersey – we have given them an opportunity to buy Kappa and a Chiefs product from absolutely brilliant prices – from T-shirts, caps, to bags and socks.
“There’s about 48 different items available for fans.
“We made a decision not to create the third jersey, that causes confusion for fans. We also did not want them to try and find money for the third jersey.
“The home jersey comes in two colour shorts – black and gold shorts. How we decided on the away colour jersey? Every year we change jerseys, we wanted to do something that the club has not done before or worn – if you go through the archives, they have not worn anything in that colour.
“The green is something we thought would bring a big change. We wanted to bring in real change.
“And the green represents the country, it represents Amakhosi nation and it represent the biggest team in the country.
“It also represents the grassroots levels, the landscapes of the country, and we want that green to identify with the supporters as a Kaizer Chiefs green – not a green of anything else we have seen.”
Joseph said the players will not walk out on the pitch on August 6 without knowing and understanding the technology of what the new jersey provides.
“It’s a new jersey with technical abilities, it is so light that the players cannot even feel it – it is so comfortable for the players. The players are loving this skin-fit, not the slim-fit of other jerseys.”
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