REGGAE BOYZ fans looking to support the team by sporting replica jerseys of new sponsors Kappa will have to wait at least a few more weeks before the latest gear becomes available on the market.

In fact, with the draft design for the new jersey having only been recently submitted to the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for approval, the replica gear will not be ready for any of the crucial upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Mexico, Honduras or Canada.

In April, after having gone almost two years without a kit sponsor, the JFF announced the signing of a US$1.7 million two-year deal with the Italian sporting manufacturing company.

Final design

While the team has already received gear, bags and other items as stipulated by the contract, the current jersey is one which was already stocked by the Italian manufacturers and will not be the final design. The JFF first signed a kit deal in 1995 with Lanzera, which merged with Kappa one year later. However, that contract was terminated following the World Cup in 1998.

"We came on board with them (Kappa) almost in the middle of their calendar year, but we have tried to get them to hurry things along," Horace Reid, general secretary of the JFF, told The Gleaner.

"In fact they went on holidays in August. Another reason for the delay was a protracted period as it related to the finalisation of the contract," Reid said.

"It is disappointing not to have the jerseys in time for the qualifiers but they will be available in time for the Digicel Caribbean Cup," he said.