AFC Leopards entangled in renewed legal fray with American sports gear maker

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FOOTBALL: AFC Leopards entangled in renewed legal fray with American sports gear maker

Festus Chuma 16:31 - 14.09.2023

AFC Leopards faces another legal challenge with Nsejjere Sports LLC with former officials also implicated in the dispute.

Twelve-time storied Football Kenya Premier League champions AFC Leopards once again finds themselves  in the heart of a legal tussle, this time revolving around a miscellaneous application submitted to the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi. 

This action comes after the US-based sports gear company, Nsejjere Sports LLC, previously sued the club in the Superior Court of the State of Washington.

The tension was palpable when the gear company, keen to make a statement, announced its miscellaneous application to the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi, through bold proclamations in leading national newspaper, Daily Nation, on Thursday ,14th September.

Adding layers to the intrigue, it is not the first courtroom rodeo for these two giants. The roots trace back to a 2015 legal face-off where Nsejjere Sports LLC accused AFC Leopards of a grievous breach of their 2011 contract.

The said contract, crafted on July 7, 2011, entrusted Nsejjere Sports LLC with the task of outfitting AFC Leopards in style. From replica jerseys to casual T-shirts and caps, the deal was set to run until June 2017. 

To sweeten the deal, the sportswear company even pledged to deliver two complete uniforms every year at no extra cost for the initial season, contingent on the club holding its end of the bargain concerning minimum annual order quantities.

In return, AFC Leopards was bound by the golden handcuffs of exclusivity, promising loyalty to Nsejjere Sports LLC products and spurning the allure of competitors.

In a bid to foster this partnership, Nsejjere Sports LLC made significant investments. They inaugurated a dedicated production line tailored for AFC Leopards to the tune of Sh22.5 million. Their commitment was further demonstrated in February 2014 when they shipped merchandise worth a fortune.

However, the clouds of contention began to form when the gear manufacturer claimed that AFC Leopards' officials, in a baffling move, refused to accept the 2014 consignment.

Gossip mills went into overdrive when whispers surfaced that the club was allegedly courting Sportbiz Limited, a direct rival of Nsejjere.

Seeking justice and desperate to protect its interests, Nsejjere Sports approached the court, imploring it to slam the brakes on AFC Leopards' officials from hawking merchandise and player uniforms not emblazoned with their brand. 

Their cries did not fall on deaf ears, as the court soon mandated the club to make amends for the financial losses endured by Nsejjere. 

Adding more fuel to the already raging fire, the recent miscellaneous application throws the spotlight not just on the club but also on its former officials. 

Mr. Kasavuli, Patrick Ngaira, George Aladwa, Esther Luvember, and Timothy Lilumbi have been specifically named in this burgeoning legal saga.

While the detailed nuances of the fresh case remain shrouded in mystery, it’s clear that this legal quagmire is an offshoot of the lingering disputes dating back to 2015.

Fans, stakeholders, and sports enthusiasts are on tenterhooks, anxiously awaiting the verdict.