SOME ten years ago, most premiership teams either bought Chinese made imitations of global sportswear brands such as Nike, Adidas and Umbro for use in local competitions or they simply wore unbranded jerseys that carried no value at all.
Probably the only high-profile sponsorship of any local teams by a global sportswear giant was between 2011 and 2014 when Adidas’ South Africa division dressed Dynamos and Highlanders during, arguably, the PSL’s most productive years.
On the Ball (OTB) Sportswear was to step in with its Looks brand in 2020, a relationship that saw most fans owning a jersey or two for the first time in years.
Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum’s Umbro kits are not sponsored, the same way Scottland has to purchase Adidas kits.
The gap has however not been left open, local brands have taken it up and some beautiful stripes have been produced over the years. Some would remember Dynamos’ Vabvuwi third kit which was designed and produced by Looks in 2023.
For the 2026 season, recent entrants like Kafla, Achieve Infinity, Amakhosi Wear and Viego have also done justice; improving on quality and dishing out designs that would have European teams admiring their efforts.
Kafla is owned by Watson ‘Watta’ Kafelapanjila who is popularly known for managing ZimDancehall superstar Freeman. His latest Manica Diamonds design has caught the eyes of many football fans and rightfully so. Kaizer Chiefs and Borrusia Dortmund would love it.
“It makes sense, economically, for local clubs to engage local kit manufacturers,” said Watta.
“Because we cut the import and transport bill, kits produced locally are comparatively cheaper when compared to those being sourced out of the country.”
Kafla produces Mupamhombe branded apparel for new-moneybags Hardrock, Avelion FC and material used by Mutare based Manica Diamonds.
Both are in the US$20 range, almost a third of 2025 Castle Lager premiership champions Scottland’s US$60 Adidas kit.
Added Watta: “We need more of our fans to wear genuine replicas of clubs they support rather than wear replicas of teams in Europe and other regions. Local manufacturers have shown that they have the capacity to produce these replicas.”
After making a name designing kits for social soccer teams such as Vigilance FC, which is run by Zim Dancehall artist, Winky D’s fans, Viego has been producing quality jerseys for Harare giant Caps United and newly promoted Agama FC.
Caps United’s 2026 third kit, a wavy design of green and black, received rave reviews after its launch earlier this year. It is indeed up there with the rest of quality stripes now in use.
Bulawayo Chiefs chief executive officer (CEO) Thulani ‘Javas’ Sibanda, whose club owns Amakhosi Wear, told Bhora Afrika that because they had eliminated the middle man, they were saving more money other than being in control of their designs, fabric choices and production.
“Having our own brand has delivered to us the much needed control over a lot of kitting aspects that include design, fabric choices, production turn around and most importantly the privilege to save money through eliminating the middle man.
“Being in control ensures that you can play around with your brand at any time that you require. It basically puts your destiny in your hands.
“We are still a growing brand and we have found the pathway much smoother even in areas where we subcontract on production.”
Amakhosi Wear is now kitting Cyrene Boys High which the club adopted this year with Sibanda revealing plans to clothe other schools and lower division clubs.
Achieve Infinity, owned by Jadel Football Academy (JFA) director Walter ‘Ringers’ Musanhu has designed kits for Caps United, Scottland, Bikita Minerals and Chegutu Pirates amongst many others.
Dakarayi is producing the MWOS FC kit while Looks has Simba Bhora, Triangle, Kwekwe United and TelOne.
