Always one to keep an eye out for, and once again not disappointing, Nike and Kaizer Chiefs launch the club’s 21/22 home and away kits, the former of which was debuted in the Carling Black Label cup win against Orlando Pirates over the weekend.
South Africa is something of an untapped resource for great jersey design, and chief among them <ahem> are the Kaizer Chiefs, who year on year get bespoke beauties laid upon them from technical partners Nike, with this year once again being no different. The new home kit is inspired by the Club’s traditional gold and black heritage, although it arrives in a more subdued look to some of the wildness that has preceded it in recent years.
The main feature on the home shirt comes in the form of an underarm panel that boasts a bespoke black and grey pattern on the side of the jersey. This pattern is duplicated on the away jersey, thereby creating a strong connection between the two.
Speaking of the away jersey, it’s predominantly black and iron grey with accent gold lines mapping out the African continent, connecting the club to Africa’s tapestry and solidifying their journey on the continent, particularly after the memorable journey in last season’s CAF Champions League competition.
“With these two kits, we connect with our heritage and look forward to the future. We align our brand and our supporters on the journey to success. This is our roadmap to victory! Let us wear our jerseys with pride inspired to achieve.” says Jessica Motaung, Marketing Director at Kaizer Chiefs.
This year the new jerseys are supported by an environmentally friendly campaign – ’Plastic never felt so good’. Once again, Innovation was key in developing the 2021/22 kit, featuring Nike’s technology which enhances ventilation to increase comfort and speed. The kit is made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles – it has been turned into a lightweight fabric that is breathable while still maintaining a strong knit structure. Nike’s Move To Zero is the company’s journey toward a zero carbon and zero waste future.
“We are delighted to contribute towards saving the planet," added Motaung. "Every effort helps, by using recycled plastic to produce such stunning and iconic garments, we ask every single person to do their bit to help save our world. We are so happy that the team and supporters will look fashionable and stylish in this amazing product. It is inspiring what modern technology can do and how it can be used to give our team the best possible tools for the job.”
The home shirt got off to a winning start, with the Amakhosi lifting the Carling Black Label Cup after a win on penalties against Orlando Pirates, who also debuted their new away shirt.
Pick up the Kaizer Chiefs 21/22 home and away shirts at prodirectsoccer.com
