Mozambique
Home; 2019-
I’m going to start this post with a “thank you” to Fred, for his amazing offer to get this shirt for me, and then his patience as we sorted out how to actually get it to me. And this jersey has been on quite a journey. It was made in Portugal by Lacatoni, before winging its way to Mozambique, and more specifically the Mozambique FA office where it was one of a handful that was available for purchase there. The plan was then to have it shipped to me in Canada directly. However, none of the couriers I contacted would offer a pick-up service for Mozambique and Fred advised against using Mozambique's own postal service. So Fred once more went out of his way for me, and held onto the shirt until he travelled to Brazil a few months later. Finally, from there it was posted to me and surviving the usual slow Canada Post handling, it was finally in my hands and collection. Then I realised the shirt was even better than what I was expecting.
From a distance, it is a strong red design with solid black collar and cuffs which give it a pleasing old-fashioned look. But the true beauty comes when you get up close. On the right of the chest, there are images of drummers and dancers which represent the Mozambique people. On its own, that would be a lovely touch, but the designers have actually arranged them to make a shape of the country itself. When you see all that, then you realise that the wavy lines across the rest of the shirt are linked to the shoulder design, as they represent the sea. The only part of the shirt which I think could have been done better is the crest. Like a lot of manufacturers these days, Lacatoni have gone for a thin heat-press. A heat-press might suit the material of the shirt better than embroidery, but just a pity they didn’t go with a better solution like a moulded plastic. But it is a small gripe, and the crest design itself is representative of the national flag, including the depiction of an AK47. It is amazing that FIFA will not allow teams to have two different colour sleeves, but seem fine with a gun on an FA logo.
This kit has only been worn twice by the senior team at the time of writing. Lunched in November 2019 to coincide with the start of qualifying for ACN 2021, the shirt was called upon in a home win over Rwanda and an away draw to Cape Verde the month before the COVID-19 pandemic developed. Like most football around the world, these qualifiers have now been postponed indefinitely. Before the complete shut down, the Mambas futsal team did wear the kit in 2020 but we will just have to wait and see when any Mozambique team lines out in it again.
