By SANDRA MWILA –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is believed to have opted for little-known Asian kit maker, Mafro to dress the Chipolopolo in a two-year deal they are set to announce later this month.
Mafro are the makers of the kit that current Zambian league leaders Nkana wear.
This looks like a giant backward leap to sign with little known  kit supplier Mafro from Singapore to dress Chipolopolo who just left renowned USA kit maker Nike.
Impeccable sources at FAZ said Mafro was the supplier FAZ had settled for and whom would give the Andrew Kamanag led executive, US$200,000 over the duration of the contract.
The source told the Times that FAZ will soon announce the deal which will see FAZ go backwards in terms on money received as the Nike deal was said to be near US$500,000.
This is a 60 per cent drop and can be as a result of the dubious activities that saw Nike walk out on Zambia.
Another team that is dressed by Mafro is Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko with a US$150,000
Other varying reports though reveal that FAZ were pocketing 80,000 euros from the Nike deal who pulled the plung on their deal with the Chipolopolo.
As Zambia joins Nkana in donning the Mafro kit, the rest of the African national teams wear Puma and Adidas, which are the most common.
Nike has been kit sponsor for the Chipolopolo for 10 years and were dressed in the kit during the historical AFCON win in 2012.
Information on the ground is that Nike pulled out because of fraudulent activities that saw the jersey being printed in China.
“The Chipolopolo have clinched a deal with Mafro though it was not as good as Nike but the FAZ were looking at a brand that can give them design and quality.
“FAZ tried to go back on Nike but failed following the corrupt practices that surrounded the deal in the past regime,” the sources said.
When contacted for a comment, FAZ acting general secretary Katongo Kabungo declined to comment stating that there was no such thing.
“I am the acting general secretary and official communications should come from me, as far as I am concerned, there is no such thing.
“When we eventually clinch a kit sponsorship deal, we will inform you,” Kabungo said.