Nike signs five-year deal with South African FA

South Africa national team (picture credit: getty images)

US sportswear firm Nike has agreed a five-year partnership with the South African Football Association to become the governing body’s new technical sponsor from February 1.

Although the financial terms were undisclosed, Nike will kit South Africa's national football teams (men and women). The partnership also provides SAFA with access to the Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto, Johannesburg, where the organisation’s technical team will have the opportunity to identify and nurture grassroots talent.

Puma terminated its contract as SAFA’s kit supplier last October amid match-fixing allegations concerning the national team from its friendly warm-up matches in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

“This partnership signifies Nike’s deep commitment to support and advance South African football at all levels of the game, from the national team to grassroots football. We look forward to providing innovative product technology to help players reach their full potential, and to helping shape the future success of South African football,” Nike Africa General Manager Laurent Payre said.

“We are excited to partner with Nike and look forward to this comprehensive partnership enabling us to focus on the progression of football. This is a significant time for South African football as we embark on strengthening our structures especially across development and grassroots,” SAFA President Danny Jordaan said.

In German Bundesliga football, Nike has also extended its presence by becoming the new kit maker of Eintracht Frankfurt from the 2014-15 season.

Though the terms of the deal was not disclosed. Eintracht joins Nike’s list of German Bundesliga football teams (Werder Bremen, FSV Mainz and SC Freiburg).

Before the deal, Frankfurt had 11-year collaboration with German sportswear firm, Jako.