Puma Release Algeria Jersey

On January 2nd, Puma released the new Algeria jersey that will be worn by the team at the upcoming 2010 African Cup of Nations. A few months ago, most fans were unanimous with the Algerian Football Federation's decision to sign with the German firm when the contract with Le Coq Sportif came to its term. After all, any respectable sporting manufacturer, especially one as prestigious and successful as Puma, would have been an upgrade over Le Coq's uninspired designs and mediocre-quality kits. Puma was already the supplier of many of the top African nations and its cutting edge designs earned rave reviews from football fans.

However, to the shock of many Algerian fans, Puma has managed to drag itself below the level of its predecessor with the release of the new Algeria jersey, a plain white shirt featuring a cartoonish Fennec (desert Fox) on the shoulder that looks like it could have been drawn up by a 10-year old student in a grade school art class. The kit lacks any form of inspiration, and, in fact, it could quite as easily pass as the uniform for a team in a children's rec league. Puma simply put out a white jersey, with a touch of green and the head of Pokemon character, and slapped a €75 price tag on it.

For a company known for its sleak and modern designs in the footballing world, the "jersey" is nothing less than a mockery, especially for a country that will be playing in the upcoming World Cup in less than 6 months time. What makes matter worse is that plenty of Algerian fans looking to support the team have gone out in droves and bought this abomination, to the point where it is already sold out in many stores in France less than two days after its release. Puma officials must be laughing all the way to the bank as they cash in on this farce, as their calculated risk of putting out a clown suit as a National Team jersey looks like its paying off. Let us hope that this is just a minor blip from Puma before the Algeria team steps into the world spotlight in South Africa in June. Otherwise, some fans might just be calling for a return to Le Coq Sportif's dull, drab designs ..