IN DEFENSE OF THE NEW FLAMES KIT

This evening, the Flames of Malawi will host Namibia’s Brave Warriors in what promises to be an enticing encounter. Unfortunately, ahead of the match, instead of discussing formations, tactics, the starting XI, the Flames playing under floodlights, or the implications of the result on Malawi’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the dominant topic has been the Flames’ newly unveiled football kits.

Sarah Mlimbika, Zainab Kapanda, and CJ Banda modelling the controversial jersey

Manufactured by Admiral, the kit set has received heavy criticism from most football fanatics in the country, particularly due to its perceived poor aesthetics and an uninspired photoshoot that accompanied the launch. Meanwhile, others have criticized the choice of Admiral, a brand often associated with ‘cheap’ products among football apparel enthusiasts.

To express their disappointment, scores of football fans have taken to social media to voice their displeasure. Some argue that the kits are bland and uninspiring, while others claim they lack the sophistication befitting a serious national team. To drive their point home, some fans have pointed out the apparent resemblance between the green away kit and Nyasa Big Bullets’ training kit from the 2023 season, which, coincidentally, was also produced by Admiral. Others have gone as far as petitioning the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to recall the kit and solicit new designs from fans.

The Flames from Milan pa boma

Displeasure with football kits—whether for a club or a national team—is not a new phenomenon. It happens globally and has occurred locally before. Domestically, the uproar that followed the unveiling of the Umbro-issued “AC Milan-esque” black and red striped Flames jersey in 2014 comes to mind. At the time, Malawians criticized the jersey for deviating from the traditional colour pattern associated with the national team. Across the border in Zambia, fans criticized the Kopa kit worn by the Chipolopolo at AFCON 2024 for its poor fabric, which seemed to soak up sweat. In Europe, fans of PSG, Cardiff City, Bayern Munich, and Stuttgart, among others, have staged physical protests or pushed for boycotts over jerseys that stray from traditional colours and patterns. Even across the Atlantic, fans of the USA launched a petition to force their football federation to change the nationalteam’s kit ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

In my opinion, however, the uproar over the new Flames jersey is overblown, and FAM should proceed with bringing the jerseys to market. Here’s why.

Mzava, Gaba, Kamwendo, and Ngalande modelling the 2014 Umbro kit

First, the new set—which includes a predominantly red home kit, an all-green away kit, and an all-black alternative kit—has largely maintained the traditional colours and patterns associated with our national football teams. As such, the new jersey has passed the core test.

Regarding the argument that the kits, which all use the same template (a point I personally find problematic for reasons I will address in a separate article), are ugly due to a lack of sophistication, one Mr. Matthews Kamaliza eloquently addressed this on Facebook by pointing out that “Admiral’s design philosophy is rooted in retro-inspiredand classic football aesthetics.” This philosophy differs from the trendy, futuristic designs currently favoured by brands like Nike, Puma, and Adidas.

Now, do I find the new jerseys aesthetically pleasing? No, I don’t. However, I don’t believe that warrants petitions or a recall. It’s normal for football teams to have an unattractive kit once in a while. What matters most is the respect for traditional colours and patterns, which the new jersey honours.

CJ Banda, Khuda Muyaba, and Pupa Mzava modelling the immediate previous kits

Second, the kit won’t last forever. In the modern world, clubs and football federations change jerseys every season to maximize revenue from shirt sales. However, for the cash-strapped Football Association of Malawi, releasing a new kit every season is a far-fetched dream. For example, the Flames wore their previous jersey for three consecutive years. My point is this: if you strongly dislike the current jersey, sit this one out like you do when your favourite football club has released a jersey you don't fancy. Eventually, a new jersey will replace it. Just hope that the next one meets your expectations. Better yet, you could push FAM to consult fans on the aesthetics of future kits before signing a deal with a new supplier. Of course, that might be a stretch.

Lastly, the criticism of Admiral as a “cheap brand” is hard to understand. Given FAM’s financial constraints and the purchasing power of the average Malawian football fan, engaging high-end brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, or Umbro—whose replica shirts typically cost over $100 is out of the question. When FAM partnered with Adidas, Puma, and Umbro in the past, the recurring issue was the struggle to sell enough replicas. Very few Malawians can afford to spend over $100 on a football jersey. In fact, a quick look around shows that this reality isn’t unique to Malawi. Most football associations in Africa have accepted the difficulty to sell replicas of big brands and are moving to brands that issue affordable replicas. For this reason, it makes sense for FAM to engage Admiral. After all, this isn’t the first time Admiral has manufactured the Flames’ kits—they did so in the 1980s. As such, the current deal is a simple nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The Flames rocking Admiral in the 1980s

For the reasons mentioned above, unless someone can present a compelling rebuttal, I implore FAM to stand their ground and stick with the jersey the Flames are scheduled to debut this evening. Regardless of the number of signatures the ongoing petition generates (impressive work, by the way, to the person who launched it—it’s not easy to generate that many signatures on a Malawian issue), FAM should disregard the criticism and pressure. Bring the kit on the market. I have no doubt it will grow on us, and many who are criticizing it now will eventually learn to love it. 

On that note, good luck to the Flames. Burn them Zebras!