Nike Reveals The New Kit For The South African National Soccer Team

Nike and the South African Football Association (SAFA) introduced the new home and away national team football kits, which will be worn on-pitch during the African Cup of Nations in January 2015.

 "We are very proud of our new kit which reflects the pride of our nation and the future of great football. Bafana Bafana are shining through to the African Cup of Nations and the new kit is an inspirational one, pushing the team to fight against past missed opportunities, while reflecting on past accomplishments," says Danny Jordaan, President, South African Football Association.

The gold home jersey features a classic flat green collar with a single gold stripe on the inside back of the neckline, and has green cuffs on the sleeves. The King Protea, South Africa's national flower, is emblazoned on the left chest, with the SAFA logo centered below the front of the V-neck. The South African flag rests on the outer back of the neck.

A solid gold stripe runs down the sides of the green shorts. Gold socks with a bold green top cuff complete the home kit.

The away jersey is green, and is paired with gold shorts and green socks that use the same features as the home kit. The jersey and shorts feature a slimmer fit tailored to the body, enabling player to perform better. "The new kits are very light and have a great fit,” says South African footballer Sibusiso Vilakazi. “The simplicity of the design and the use of the green and gold make these striking kits and I can't wait to play in them."​

The kits also showcase Nike's key technological features.

Cooling and Comfort

Nike Dri-FIT technology draws sweat away from the body to the exterior of the shirts and shorts where the moisture quickly evaporates. This allows players to perform at their absolute best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable

The kits are crafted from a new dual-knit fabric consisting of cotton and recycled polyester that removes sweat and offers a softer feel and an overall more flattering appearance.

Environmental Sustainability

In line with Nike's commitment to superior performance with lower environmental impact, the full kits feature fabric made from recycled polyester.

Each kit represents an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles, with 100 percent recycled polyester in the shorts and 96 percent recycled polyester in the jersey. Since 2010, Nike has diverted almost 2 billion bottles from landfills, enough to cover more than 2,800 full-sized football pitches.

Perfect Fit

Nike designers utilized three-dimensional body scans of elite footballers to collect data on the form of today's players and identify an updated fit to improve comfort and allow the body to move more naturally within the kit.

Nike Pro Baselayer

 The new Nike Pro baselayer is the lightest ever from Nike and features increased venting and breathability. The Nike Pro baselayers are designed for the varying temperatures and conditions athletes will encounter when playing at home, on the continent and internationally.

The new South Africa football jersey will be available Dec. 11 in select stores in South Africa.