Kappa back with flair

Kappa is back with a bang – and the good wishes of key PSL players, hard-hitters like Nick Durandt and his boxers, beautiful people like Mr SA finalists and singer Danny Kaye, big and small retailers from near and far, and the press. Judging by the people attending the Kappa launch at the Taboo club in Sandton, Michael Joseph, his son Ricky and partner Dave Abramsohn, had done their homework. The people who can smoothe the re-entry of the brand into SA were all there.

Micheal Joseph

Ricky Joseph

PSL CEO Stanley Matthews reminisced about the heyday of SA soccer in 1996 when Pres Nelson Mandela proudly lifted the African Nations cup, wearing a Kappa team shirt. He highlighted the Joseph family’s soccer link when mentioning the days when he coached Ricky at Balfour Park. Former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett did the lucky draw. Supersport coach Gavin Hunt enjoyed the fashion show and quips from fellow footballers about Black Leopards’ win in their new Kappa-sponsored kit against Supersport United.

PSL CEO Stanley Matthews

Nick Durandt in his signature kadot, his son Damien and some of their young champs showed off their Kappa boxing kit before the models, including a Mr SA finalist, took to the stage in Kappa’s brighty coloured T-s, stretch shorts, sweats, hoodies, three-quarter shorts, golfers and soccer boots, cross-trainers, sneakers and technical trail shoes.

Trainer Nick Durandt

Italian brand Kappa – from the same stable as the Superga brand successfully established by Joseph in SA – grew out of a “jocks and socks” family business founded in 1916 into one of the few billion dollar sports companies in the world. Having sponsored Juventus, the US Olympic team in the 1984 Olympics, Italian rugby and about 100 football teams across the world, it is known globally as a sport brand with lifestyle appeal.

Locally Kappa sponsors the PSL team Black Leopards, three indoor soccer teams and also development teams at grassroots level.

Black Leopards home wear

Joseph acknowledges that the fact that the brand had been in and out of the country is a drawback, and therefore laid a strong retail foundation before the public launch – getting commitment from countrywide chains to independents. Judging by the retailers travelling from far to attend the launch, this time it is indeed going to be different. 

Jimmy and Raai of Jimmy's Cycle and Sport

Victor Leferela and Asad Zahoor of Everest Sport