Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the return of Kappa to Naturena, in a statement released on Thursday, Amakhosi announced Kappa as the club’s official technical sponsor.
“It was an iconic partnership that revolutionised South African football in the early 90s and now Kaizer Chiefs and Italian sportswear giants Kappa have reunited in a landmark agreement that sees Kappa become Chiefs’ official technical sponsor and licensing partner from the 2023/24 season for an initial period of five years,” said the club in the statement.
The agreement to reunite two of the leading brands in football was signed in Italy on Thursday, rekindling a relationship that first started in 1989 for seven glorious trophy-laden years and a memorable football fashion journey.
“We are excited to team up with Kappa once again, a brand with which Kaizer Chiefs set new records and established itself as trendsetters in African football in the early 1990s. Kappa, like Kaizer Chiefs, is a unique brand of style and class and one of the key players in the global football kit space. Kappa have had great partnerships with some of the world’s leading football clubs, as well as a number of local teams over the years. This deal is not only an acknowledgment of our past but also an exciting leap into the future for the club,” said Kaizer Chiefs Marketing and Commercial Director, Jessica Motaung, who was in Italy this week to finalise and conclude the relationship.
The relationship between Chiefs and Kappa dates back to 1989, when Chiefs first wore the chic Italian brand. The partnership – which lasted until 1996 – saw the two brands build a strong and proud heritage. Over this time, Chiefs won many trophies and became leaders in the football fashion sphere. This marriage also generated enormous growth for the Kappa brand in South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Michael Joseph, CEO of Kappa South Africa said: “The signing of this partnership with Kaizer Chiefs has been a target of our company since we reignited the Kappa Brand in South Africa in 2010. This partnership is in perfect alignment with our ambition and continuous goals to continue to make Kappa the largest sports brand in Africa. We are thrilled to be once again partnering with a Club like Kaizer Chiefs whose passion and drive in all aspects, matches that of our brand. Not only are they an ambitious Club, with a strong identity and uniqueness of elegance and excellence, but their fans are their priority. ”
Great players such as Doctor Khumalo, Lucas Radebe, Fani Madida, Gary Bailey, Isaac ‘Shakes’ Kungwane, Marks Maponyane, Neil Tovey, Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse and many other former players wore Kappa with pride and lifted almost every trophy that was on offer in the late 1980s until 1996. The identity of the Club during those historic years was built around Kappa as Chiefs’ kit sponsor that saw Chiefs wear the famous “Omini” stamped jerseys.
The new partnership follows the parting of ways between Chiefs and Nike at the end of the 2022/23 season, after the longest kit partnership in the Club’s history, lasting 23 years.