Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA yesterday said they went through a rigorous selection before settling for Gallant brand to be adopted as the official kit designers for national teams.
This comes at the end of a six-week competition featuring local designers.
The judges panel yesterday said they received a total of 250 entries for this competition, which was dubbed “Warrior Pride: Brand Design Battle.”
The competition was open to graphic designers and artists, football fans, youth, social media creatives, advertising agencies and all talented Zimbabweans.
Gallant brand designer will receive US$3 000 prize money and an all-expenses paid trip to watch the Warriors’ opening match against Egypt at the AFCON 2025 in Morocco in December.
As was largely expected, the announcement of the winning design stirred debate but chair-person of the panel of judges Crispen Sachikonye explained how they settled for Gallant Brand.
“We prioritised brand identity over kit design, recognising that the brand has the potential for greater longevity and national impact,” said Sachikonye.
“Entries that performed well demonstrated both originality and imagination in their brand and kit design. These submissions successfully incorporated Zimbabwean visual elements in a fresh, distinctive manner.
“High-scoring entries often reflected a strong, culturally resonant concept, with thought given to both the brand name and visual storytelling.
“Conversely, lower-scoring entries typically lacked a cohesive brand identity. From this process, we selected a shortlist of 12 entries for the public vote. This list included each judge’s top pick.
“We acknowledged at this stage that some brand names and emblematic elements over-lapped with existing commercial or national identities.
“We also recognised the importance of selecting a name and image with clear and broad Zimbabwean resonance and relied on the public vote to inform that.”
He lauded the public support for the exercise.
“The public voting process proved to be immensely valuable. It challenged our assumptions, validated several of our concerns (especially around appeal), and ultimately refined our final decision.
“We combined the results of the public vote with our own scoring and discussions, narrowing the selection down to two finalists.”
The winning brand and kit designs could be on display when Zimbabwe play at the upcoming AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
The judges panel, which comprised industry experts such as Sapi Bachi, Brett van Rooyen, Eb Ayisa, Danayi Madondo, Carl Ncube and ex-footballer Desmond Maringwa, were tasked to hunt for a brand that truly represents the spirit, resilience, and unity of Zimbabwe in football. “After extensive deliberation, we agreed on a choice: The Gallant Brand. We were drawn to the way the name “Gallant,” resonated with the idea of “Warriors’, an identity historically associated with the national team and could be suitable for a commercial brand.
“The submission also stood out for its use of symbolic imagery, including the conical tower and the Zimbabwe Bird, both of which carry strong national significance.
“However, we believe that the brand name and logo will benefit from further refinement. The kit design will also require work to improve its overall aesthetic and style,” said Sachikonye.
