By Mukwuzi Joseph
German sportswear manufacturing company Puma has announced the termination of their kits contract with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
The German company announced the termination of the four-year deal in a letter dated August 4, which was signed by PUMA’s Director Manuel Edlheimb and made available to our correspondent by Director-General of the Ibrahim Gusau-led AFN, Siminilaye Pepple.
“We are referring to the licensing and sponsoring agreement signed between our company and your federation.
“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 especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals,” Edlheimb was quoted as saying in the statement.
The AFN under Gusau had entered the $2.76m deal with Puma on July 24, 2019, in Doha, but the controversial contract is one of the major causes of the crisis rocking the AFN, which had split the athletics body into two factions, with both Gusau and his vice president Sunday Adeleye accused of sidelining other members of the board during the signing of the deal.
The sports ministry insisted that Team Nigeria athletes were not going to use Puma kits at the ongoing Olympic Games despite the Gusau group sending them to Tokyo.
