Pre-season ticket sales, electronic ticketing and merchandising of club jerseys, scarves are some of the approaches that can boosting African football clubs’ kitty, a Kenyan football enthusiast says.
Another key element includes massive membership recruitment.
Dan Oketch, who has declared interest in vying for the chairmanship of Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia, later in the year, says African clubs, tend to over-depend on corporate sponsorship to boost their financial base.
“Community clubs that command big following like Gor Mahia, should tap into their massive fan base, by embarking on massive membership drive to boost their finances,’’ he said.
Gor Mahia supporters should acquire membership cards by registering as club members. By so doing, they will feel part and parcel of the club; managing a club is business, he said.
“If elected I will within 60 days, implement electronic ticketing, advance ticket sales which cut revenue losses at the gates.”
He said his ideas are not rocket science as they have been implemented successfully elsewhere.
“There are experts in these fields; all we need to do is hire their services,’’ he said, and gave the example of a recent successful musical show in Nairobi, which realised a lot of money.
“They used electronic ticketing so, there was no room for revenue loss at the gates. Problems facing Kenyan clubs are not unique as other African clubs experience similar hitches.’’
Oketch wants to unseat Gor Maia chairman Ambrose Rachier. Gor Mahia won the Kenyan Premier League for third time in a row in 2015, winning unbeaten. In 1987, they won the now disbanded CAF Nelson Mandela Cup.
