The New Year will have a new look for the Indian football team, as The Blue Tigers will be wearing all new kits for their upcoming campaign in the AFC Asian Cup 2019.
Manufactured by the Indian sportswear brand, Six5Six have signed a five-year deal with the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the commercial partners of All India Football Federation (AIFF), and will be outfitting the national teams across all age groups and genders, as per the agreement.
Seven players including the likes of Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Rowllin Borges, Shubhasish Bose and Pritam Kotal walked the ramp for the launch of the new kit at a glittering function held in the capital earlier today.
The highest Indian goal scorer in International Football, Sunil Chhetri highlighted the comfort element of the new kit. "There is a sense of freshness in the jersey and it's always nice to have a kit we are comfortable in," he said.
AIFF President Praful Patel said: "I welcome Six5Six on board as the official kit sponsors of the Blue Tigers. The new kits look awesome and I cannot wait to watch the Blue Tigers in their new skin for our biggest continental event - AFC Asian Cup 2019, and the International Friendly leading to the event. We look forward to a fruitful and long-term relationship with Six5Six."
Meanwhile, the co-founders for Six5Six Avni and Ambar Aneja said: "SIX5SIX is proud to announce their partnership with the National Team as the Official Kit Partner. The whole process of design was inspired by the spirit of the team and its rise in world football. Young, roaring and ready-to-go, the design is a reflection of the current state of Indian Football. The alliance is a big leap forward for the brand and the national team, and we can't wait to see what the bright future of Indian Football holds!"
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The new jersey pays homage to the Indian Football Fans, who have affectionately been calling the team "Blue Tigers."
The new kit has stylised tiger stripes design element emblazoned on the sleeves, reverberating the Blue Tigers' predatory instincts which have seen them rise from 173 to 97 in the FIFA rankings in the last three years.
The replica kits will be available for the fans starting from December 20. Six5Six will also make other merchandise available in the near future. The Indian team will be seen donning its new colours for the first time in their friendly match against Oman, which will be played in Abu Dhabi on December 27, 2018.
India will kick-off their campaign in the AFC Asian Cup against Thailand on January 6, with matches against hosts UAE and Bahrain slotted for January 10, and 14 respectively.