Sec Gen Ocholla warns sellers of counterfeit merchandize
Gor Mahia Secretary General Sam Ocholla is threatening legal action against any person who sells the club’s merchandize without permission.
Additional reporting from the Nation
Ochola has confirmed genuine club merchandise will arrive in the country before the new season kicks off.
Even though the resumption of football is still in doubt, Ochola has warned fans against buying fake Gor Mahia merchandise that have since flooded the market.
Just like their rivals AFC Leopards who have opened a new merchandise shop in the City Centre, Ochola revealed that the original jerseys will be sold at the club’s offices located at Finance House building in Nairobi.
“Anybody be it a Gor Mahia fan or business man purporting to be selling Betsafe jerseys will face the full wrath of the law. As Gor Mahia secretariat we have not issued any permit for our Betsafe merchandise to be sold. When they are arrive, we shall engage our marketing team so that fans can get original ones and not counterfeits or fake ones,” Ochola told Nation Sport.
The official added that in the past, the club has lost a lot of revenue because of individuals who sell branded club merchandise without the secretariat’s consent. He insisted that he will personally be monitoring sale of merchandise to ensure the club gets good returns.
“We must weed out these elements who use our logo and the club doesn’t get anything. For Betsafe merchandise, we are ready to involve security agencies to help us get value for our sponsorship and money for the club. We urge fans to be patient because we have made arrangements for the merchandise to be here before the league kicks off,” he added.
Ochola also revealed that the club’s operations will be centralised at Finance House as part of concerted efforts to professionalise the club. The media mogul promised to revamp Gor Mahia after the August 8 elections saying his main focus will be to ensure players welfare is catered for so that they can do well in the Caf Champions League this season.
“We have all seen what is going on in other big clubs outside the country. Gor Mahia is a big club in Africa and we should ensure we live up to that status. I am ready to fight for the best interests of players and ensure the go slows and other problems are things of the past. Gor will be in another level during my tenure and our target is to go past group stages in Champions League,” he added.
When will Gor fans realise that the so called Adidas shirts are not produced by Adidas company but some clever Chinese in conjunction with unscrupulous business men. Many Western goverments hold the Chinesse goverment at fault, in this area, for allowing such companies to operate within it’s borders. These companies produce everything fake in this world.
While I agree with Sec General on his advice, fighting the vendors is not the way. These vendors are themselves as ignorant as the fans who buy these products. You do not fight the vendor, you fight the manufacturer. On this, I will advice you not to bother, ask Adidas, Rolex, Puma, Nike, Sony, HP, Samsung and the rest, they have tried. China protects it’s snakes well.
Instead educate the fans on how to support Gor. During half time, instead of playing Lingala or Ohangla, educate fans on how to support Gor Mahia.
Finally, get in touch with businessmen, of which the club can partner with on commercial ventures. Though laudable, selling the shirts at Finance house is not the best way. Partnering with business men who can help in the purchase and sales of shirts is an example. Look for such people within your Database, this way you will also be rewarding loyalty.
@ Dinga thanks for your eye opening feedback to my query on best way to support GMFC.
It seems the best option is direct support to the club as long as the management is transparent and accountable.
SG looks good hope the treasurer is also upto the task. These two have a direct & crucial role to play in the management of the club.
I strongly suggest that the office only sells its merchandise during its home matches.
Any other selling point, apart from its official office & matches, should an unauthorized selling point dealing in fake merchandise. Once fans are sensitised on this even sellers will stop displaying the fake merchandise. FM stations, media etc can effectively pass the message in addition to messages at the stadia.
@Dinga, this is very thoughtful. Particularly on using the breaks during Matches. Not holding any bad feelings against playing Music, education is key. I also think that such opportunities should be used to educate us on how we should be responsible
and accountable to our club that we claim to love passionately. As it stands now if one was to reflect on the activities that take place during the breaks, one can hardly see an iota of what adds value to Mayienga.
The SG strikes me as a man with good vision and I hope he reads this page to get some insight on how best to run this club that is someway behind teams like simba and yanga in terms of organization.
I totally agree with dinga, especially on the part of fan education on all aspects including hooligan ism, which I must say is extremely important going forward.
Then I suggest, as opposed to just having one central point for selling merchandise, why not hire or buy an open van that can be used on match days to sell the stuff and even go round estates selling if possible… Instead of selling the wares on pavements and floors.
That way we will make good sales and further popularize the team further.
They are only selling jerseys at Finance house. How can those of us who live outside Nairobi buy jerseys. Perhaps they can sell at away games? Or find a distributor