BUKIT JALIL, Nov 15 — Nike has launched the latest iteration of kits for the Malaysian national football team, with a fresh take on the black-and-yellow of the Harimau Malaya.

The home shirt continues to feature the iconic colours, but is now primarily black with the yellow running along the sides. The shorts are also black and the socks, yellow.

The away kit is now white with blue trim, which Nike said was the first time the colour scheme was used for the national team.

Nike Malaysia country marketing manager Nino Priambodo said the kits were designed based on feedback from players to make the new outfit lighter and more agile.

“The game of football has evolved in past couple of years and Nike always listens to the voice of athletes. From product design to marketing to new innovation to support the players in every way,” he said at the launch.

Priambodo also said the new jerseys were launched to commemorate Nike’s 10-year partnership with the Football Association of Malaysia.

Nike Malaysia head of product specialist Gary Arwin explained that the new kit has been made to be more elastic and lightweight, ostensibly improving the wearer’s performance.

“We get players insights, we hear from players, coaches and fans. They all want a lightweight jersey, that they can play faster and train faster,” he said.

The new kit design will debut at the Asean Football Federation Championship Suzuki Cup starting Saturday in Myanmar and Philipines.

At the launch today, national team footballers including vice captain Baddrol Bakhtiar, Zaquan Adha, Matt Davis and Nazirul Naim modelled both designs.

National team head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee who was also present at the launch.

National striker Zaquan, who has been with the squad since 2008, said the national team jerseys have gotten better with each new design.

“They (Nike) have improved in their jersey’s, the difference from the previous year’s jersey to now can be seen,” he said.

The Malaysian team’s jersey and shorts are constructed from a polyester fabric that is made from 16 recycled plastic bottles “melted down to produce a fine yarn”, which Nike claimed woul improve performance and lowered environmental impact.

The jerseys will be sold locally at RM289, starting tomorrow at Al-Ikhsan outlets.