Football on its own carries a range of dynamics in it, and where there is fabric involved fashion cannot lag so far behind.
As it stands, fashion itself seems to have found an evergreen source of inspiration in the game.
Over the years, football teams have partnered clothing brands to make a fashion statement and appeal to the fashionistas.
While it has taken time for Botswana’s local clothing labels to tap into the sports fashion, some like All Kasi have since pioneered and succeeded to penetrate a local market that was once the forte of international luxury brands.
Since All Kasi entered the football arena, Botswana has experienced an influx of local brands into the arena. Among these are local clothing like WUSA, Dlala and Strikr, just to name a few.
Now enters a new kid on the block, MN Clothing, by Botswana’s own football export Mogakolodi Ngele.
On Friday, it was announced that MN Clothing has taken over as Notwane Football Club’s new technical sponsor for a two-year period.
MN Clothing’s takeover of a team affectionately known as ‘Makhete,’ (yuppies) due to its affinity to fashion marks a coup for the local brand.
With a hand full of designer kits, watching the launch of Notwane FC’s new range of MN replicas sure felt like watching a fashion show.
From head to toe, every piece is unique, sure to bring back the long-lost swagger of glory days gone by for Makhete.
MN clothing has come up with at least five assembles for the Sechaba nation, and cuts for ladies are rumored to be on the way.
Their first offering, the home kit is dominated by Notwane’s traditional marigold colours with black sleeves and black and marigold finishing stripes.
In the away kit, Notwane has opted for white as a dominant colour with simple diamond chain top to bottom of the t-shirt with gold sleeves.
For the alternative kit, Makhete went out of their comfort zone with baby pink a dominant colour, but with white strip across the chest and the sleeves, with a dark pink strip lined down the sleeves.
The other offerings are the tracksuits which are in the team’s traditional black and gold and lastly the so simple traveling kit being black shorts with t-shirt or black t-shirt with golden print.
Representative of MN Clothing, Siyabonga Bosigo says that the brand was an inspiration of Tsotso Ngele to give back to the community and create jobs for unemployed youths and also to support local sport.
“The marriage with Notwane is one that both parties always wanted to partner and when the opportunity appeared, both parties grabbed it,” he explained.
“Notwane is an iconic team and we wanted to contribute to its greatness along with spreading the wings of our brand,” Bosigo continued.
Noting that as a clothing label they are forever ready to work with any club and colour our football local. As time goes on, MN will also spread to other sporting codes if given the chance and grow beyond limit said Bosigo regarding the future of MN clothing.
Notwane President Tebogo Sebogo said this partnership is a remarkable one as they too are pushing local brands like the famous Tswana slogan ‘pushaBW’, also highlighting that it is a way of defining what ‘sechaba’ is about to its people.
“Sechaba is about the people and we pay homage to all the greats who have passed through the gates of Notwane including the players as well as all those who have contributed to the growth of football in this country,” he explained.
The Notwane president expressed optimism that with MN Clothing as the technical sponsor, Makhete will get their swagger back.
Sebego commended Ngele saying he has demonstrated what development does in football.
He said it is therefore fitting that as Notwane FC, they recognize his efforts and side hustles in trying to grow himself.
Sebego added that the partnership will send a message that Botswana and Batswana are capable and can deliver to the international standards if given a chance.
