Global sports merchandise company, Puma has terminated its 4-year $2.7 million deal with Nigeria over a kitting controversy for the Olympics.
This was disclosed in a letter signed by puma’s International Sports Marketing Agency and addressed to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria on Wednesday evening.
Puma said: “As a direct consequence of the recent developments, particularly at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and pursuant to Clauses 9.2 and 7.3 of the Agreement, we hereby terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.”
Puma added that it wants to be discharged from any and all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against entities involved.
The News of the Puma deal termination was imminent after reports that the German Company was unhappy with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and Nigeria’s Olympic Committee for kitting with a different sponsor, Afa Sports as the official kits supplier for Team Nigeria. This was against the deal with Puma in which both sides agreed that the Olympics Team would be kitted by Puma.
Why are the people managing affairs in sport failing woefully? This is not only an embarrassment but a shame to Nigeria. The minister of sport should have been sacked by now.