Exclusive: AFC Leopards Face Legal Battle with Kit Manufacturer Over Delayed Payments

FKF Premier League side AFC Leopards is facing a possible legal battle with Singaporian 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 that was hosted by the U45 Unit Branch.

During the unveiling, it was revealed that the new deal would involve kitting for both the senior team, the youth team and the women’s team.

MEGA DEAL SIGNED

Mafro Sports signed the contract with the team through the East Africa’s marketing manager Shon Osimbo and promised to deliver the kits just in time for the new season.

SportsBoom.co.za has obtained a demand letter from Mafro Sports, demanding the club to pay an outstanding balance of USD 32,000, Warehouse charges of USD 5,000 which is still accumulating.

According to Mafro Sports the goods were completed two months ago and are currently stored at the MAFRO warehouse. Parts 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.

Image Credits: AFC Media

"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 $10,000, of which the club will be responsible for half.”

LACK OF COMMITMENT FROM INGWE

MAFRO Sports East Africa’s marketing manager Shon Osimbo lamented lack of commitment from the club hierarchy who she claims gave a cold shoulder when she asked for clarifications over the delayed payments.

Osimbo, a journalist by profession said,”AFC Leopards is 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.

In September, a consignment from MAFRO Sports is said to have arrived at the club but it lacked the goalkeeper’s kits, and this prompted the former league champions to ask questions about the deal.

In return, MAFRO responded by asking AFC Leopards to pay for shipping fee for the remaining consignment which would cost the club around USD 1500. It is said that club treasurer Oliver Napal ‘refused’ to pay for the shipment fee and the deal was put to a halt

FANS CRAVING FOR THE NEW REPLICA

AFC Leopards fans have been craving for new replica and the MAFRO deal was welcome 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 sponsor Betika 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 which has not happened.

AFC Leopards are currently 5th in the FKF Premier League table with 11 points having drawn with newly promoted Mara Sugar in their latest fixture. 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 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 struggling in the third division.