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The veteran forward feels Leopards and Gor are sitting on goldmine and need to emulate what Shabana are doing to maximise matchday revenue
Former AFC Leopards striker Boniface Ambani believes Ingwe and Gor Mahia are sleeping on a goldmine by not taking their home matches away from Nairobi.
Making comparison with Shabana’s big turnout during their opening Football Kenya Federation Premier League match against Murang’a Seal, when they raised over Ksh600,000 from gate collections, Ambani feels Leopards and Gor would net much more if they stopped focusing on Nairobi.
Shabana sold 4,363 tickets at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay during their 1-0 loss to Murang’a, translating to Ksh600,500, in what was perceived not to be an ‘attractive fixture’ while on the same day, Leopards raised Ksh615,700 from 2,849 tickets sold at Nyayo Stadium when they hosted FC Talanta, in a match that ended goalless.
11:33 - 29.08.2023
FKFPL The thousands AFC Leopards collected form their season opener against FC Talanta
Ingwe produced an underwhelming result against FC Talanta, but certainly will not be disappointed from a financial perspective.
While Gor Mahia are yet to reveal how much they collected from the season opener, just a few fans turned up at Kasarani Stadium to witness their 1-1 draw against Sofapaka and Ambani thinks it would be wise for the two teams to take their matches to their ‘bedrooms’ of Western and Nyanza regions.
“I will continue telling AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia to start thinking of relocating the two clubs to Western province and Nyanza respectively. Their business in the city is over,” Ambani said via a Facebook post.
“I don't know why the management of the two teams are sleeping on their jobs, keep on complaining of lack of finances of running the two clubs, being fined left, right, the list is endless, while they have gold somewhere in Western and Nyanza.
“Shabana FC just clocked around Ksh650K in their match against Murang'a Seal, a match I personally perceive not to be a high-octane match, given Murang'a Seal fans didn't travel in droves. They collected that amount in a zone perceived to be, Gor Mahia bedroom. What ifiIt was Gor vs Shabana which is going to be explosive, on and off the pitch?
“You only need to spruce up your gate/ticket collections systems in Mambo Leo in Kisumu, as well as Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega for AFC. Bungoma and Busia should be on the cue in revamping their facilities as well as the sleeping Vihiga county who have more clubs in women's top league and NSL than their neighbouring counties but without a proper facility.”
Ambani’s sentiments comes from the perception that communities that reside in the aforementioned counties have a soft spot for the two teams hence the interest.
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18:26 - 28.08.2023
FOOTBALL Shabana reveal the massive amount they collected from Premier League opener
Tore Bobe might have lost their FKF Premier League opening match but the club banked a significant amount of money from Sunday’s clash.
Gor and Leopards have struggled to fill up stadiums on matchdays in the recent past with only the Mashemeji derby attracting huge numbers, having witnessed a big turnout years back.
Ambani may yet get his wish after Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda indicated this month that the club would be playing some of their home matches at Bukhungu while Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has invited Gor to stage their fixtures at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium after the facility got the greenlight to host FKF-PL matches.
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