FKF Premier League side AFC Leopards is facing a possible legal battle with Singaporean kit manufacturer Mafro Sports over delayed payments of this season’s kits.On August 29, 2024, AFC Leopards unveiled the 2024-25 kits during a Gala Award ceremony hosted by the U45 Unit Branch.During the unveiling, it was revealed that the new deal would involve kitting for the senior, youth, and women’s teams.Mafro Sports signed the contract with the team through East Africa’s marketing manager, Shon Osimbo, and promised to deliver the kits just in time for the new season.@AFCLeopards 🤝 @MAFRO_Sports Partnership ‘We’d rather be late to bring the kits but offer quality to the fans .’ Shon Osimbo – Mafro Sports’ Digital Marketing Executive and East African Head.FULL VIDEO ➡️ https://t.co/fybCfDjDx6@betikaKe @azamtvtz#OursForever #INGWE pic.twitter.com/UMOY3LSi3T— AFC Leopards SC (@AFCLeopards) August 29, 2024 SportsBoom.com has obtained a demand letter from Mafro Sports, demanding the club to pay an outstanding balance of Ksh. 4,126,571 (USD 32,000) and warehouse charges of Ksh 644,775 (USD 5,000), which are still accumulating.According to Mafro Sports, the goods were completed two months ago and are currently stored at the MAFRO warehouse.Part of the letter addressed to AFC Leopards through the kit manufacturer’s CEO Mahmoud Gomda read, “We are writing to follow up on the outstanding balance for the kits we produced for AFC Leopards.”Despite our repeated requests and the commitment to settle this amount, the payment remains overdue. As a trusted partner, we are disappointed by this delay, which has impacted our operations and strained our relationship.”“In addition, due to the delay in collection, warehouse charges have accumulated to a total of Ksh. 1,289,550 ($10,000), of which the club will be responsible for half.”“We also want to bring to your attention that we have received an overwhelming number of requests from AFC supporters eager to purchase the replica kits. The messages from fans across our social media platforms are extensive, highlighting the strong demand and enthusiasm for these kits,” the letter said.##NAJAVA_MECA_8492847##MAFRO Sports East Africa’s marketing manager, Shon Osimbo, lamented the lack of commitment from the club hierarchy, whom she claims gave a cold shoulder when she asked for clarifications over the delayed payments.Osimbo, a journalist by profession, said, “The AFC Leopards are the first team to receive free MAFRO kits for men’s, women’s, and youth teams. This package includes footballs, ball bags, kit bags, hand luggage suitcases, sports sandals, caps, medical bags, training shoes, padded jackets, and boots for all teams.”“We have done our calculations, and if they (AFC Leopards) were serious, they would have earned at least USD 147,000 from replica,” she added.A consignment from MAFRO Sports is said to have arrived at the club in September, but it lacked the goalkeeper’s kits, prompting the former league champions to ask questions about the deal.Sheffield United join Manchester United in race to sign Kenyan midfielderIn return, MAFRO responded by asking AFC Leopards to pay the shipping fee for the remaining consignment, which would cost the club around USD 1500.It is said that club treasurer Oliver Napali refused to pay for the shipment fee, and the deal was put to a halt.AFC Leopards fans have been craving new replicas, and the MAFRO deal was welcomed by many fans who believed that the incoming replica would be way better than the ones that are being sold currently by the club.The club’s shirt sponsors a gaming firm in Kenya that offered to provide kits and replicas for the team last season, but the reviews were not good from the fans.Many fans complained about the quality of the kit, and the Ingwe hierarchy promised to improve this season—something that has not happened.##NAJAVA_MECA_8489370##With uncertainty surrounding what could have been a mega-deal for the Premier League giants, MAFRO sports hope that the stalemate will be resolved soon to avoid legal battles.“If nothing is done soon, we might also think about canceling the deal through our lawyers, and this will not be cheap for my beloved club,” Osimbo stressed.AFC Leopards are currently 5th in the FKF Premier League table with 11 points after drawing with newly promoted Mara Sugar in their latest fixture.Two Kenyan referees in line to referee in 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN)The club has been using last season’s kits on matchday and Umbro kits from the previous season for training.The last kit manufacturer, B1, failed to provide training gear and other basic stuff for the team, forcing the team to recycle the kits to the disappointment of the fans.The women’s team, which still doesn’t have an identity yet, has since dished out a walkover in the FKF Women’s Super League, and the youth team is struggling in the third division.Engin Firat explains dropping Matasi, Sichenje and Omija from Harambee Stars squad
