German sportswear manufacturing giants, PUMA, has terminated its four-year contract with the former board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria led by Ibrahim Shehu Gusau.
The contract has been in dispute since the infighting started over the control of the federation in 2017.
The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development backed Athletics Federation of Nigeria denied knowledge of the contract as the deal was shrouded in secrecy between Gusau and Sunday Adeleye who was the Technical Director of the immediate past board. The sponsorship was worth $2.7m.
But in a letter dated Wednesday 4th August 2021 and signed by the company’s director, Manuel Edlheimb, PUMA said it was officially notifying the Athletics Federation of Nigeria of its termination of Sponsoring and Licensing Agreement.
“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”.
Gusau’s four-year contract with PUMA signed in 2019 was due to expire in 2022.
According to the contract, PUMA was to supply apparels to all age categories AFN teams for four years at no cost.
In addition, gold medalists at the Olympic Games were to earn $15,000, silver medalists $5,000 while a bronze medal will fetch the athlete wearing the PUMA apparel at the games $3000.
The PUMA kits delivered to Gusau who is still laying claim to the presidency of AFN despite the election of Tonobok Okowa as his successor, were rejected by the Sports Ministry.
Instead, an indigenous sports wear company AFA was contracted to produce the kits Team Nigeria are currently using at Tokyo 2020.
