WeeklySA_AdminHIGH PRESS: FANS FORCED TO DIG DEEP IN THEIR POCKETS TO SHOW LOYALTY AND LOOK THE PART
By Ali Mphaki
Overlapping costs are forcing soccer mad supporters into dribbling past their meagre finances in their quest to look the part and show support and loyalty of their respective clubs.
A genuine replica t-shirt for an adult will set you back over a thousand rand particularly if you are a fan of the so-called Big Three – Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs.
All three sell their replicas at R1 099.00 per item with Pirates slightly more expensive at R1 199.00. The Masandawana Ladies replica retailing at R999.00. Not to be outdone, Chiefs has a special fan replica priced at R1 200.00.
Soccer fans will probably not squirm to learn that Royal AM is also in the lead when it comes to which local soccer outfit sells the most expensive replica t-shirt in the PSL. The Gucci-inspired Thwihli Thwahla woman boss Shauwn Mkhize is asking her club followers a staggering R1 250.00 for their special fan 2023/24 season replica which comes with added benefits like having your name emblazoned on the t-shirt etc.
An ordinary Royal AM replica, however, costs at R500. Newly-promoted Cape Town Spurs, currently languishing at the bottom of the log, could be said to be presumptuous, their most expensive replica retailing at a mouthwatering R1 395 00 per unit. .
By Ali Mphaki
Overlapping costs are forcing soccer mad supporters into dribbling past their meagre finances in their quest to look the part and show support and loyalty of their respective clubs.
A genuine replica t-shirt for an adult will set you back over a thousand rand particularly if you are a fan of the so-called Big Three – Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs.
All three sell their replicas at R1 099.00 per item with Pirates slightly more expensive at R1 199.00. The Masandawana Ladies replica retailing at R999.00. Not to be outdone, Chiefs has a special fan replica priced at R1 200.00.
Soccer fans will probably not squirm to learn that Royal AM is also in the lead when it comes to which local soccer outfit sells the most expensive replica t-shirt in the PSL. The Gucci-inspired Thwihli Thwahla woman boss Shauwn Mkhize is asking her club followers a staggering R1 250.00 for their special fan 2023/24 season replica which comes with added benefits like having your name emblazoned on the t-shirt etc.
An ordinary Royal AM replica, however, costs at R500. Newly-promoted Cape Town Spurs, currently languishing at the bottom of the log, could be said to be presumptuous, their most expensive replica retailing at a mouthwatering R1 395 00 per unit. .
Probably out of a conscious decision not to high-press their supporters, Chippa United and Lamontville Golden Arrows replicas seem the most affordable retailing at R449 and R499 respectively. It does not get better even for the juniors or kiddies stuff. For a junior shirt a parent should be prepared to part with R899 if a Big Three supporter. Sobering news for local supporters of overseas-based clubs is that for a Manchester United or Arsenal original replica bought online, be prepared to splurge R2 199.00 per item. A Real Madrid replica is priced at R999.00 each.
It’s not clear how much revenue PSL teams derive from the sale of these replicas – clubs would not divulge – but research will show retailers earn the most from mark-ups, raking in £18.13 (about R220) per shirt.
Shockingly is that millions of fans snap up the latest kit before each season and many believe they are supporting their clubs. A Premier League club shirt sells at an average £49.45 (R900) but costs less than £5 (about R120) to produce – with clubs only making £3 (R70) per top. Kit companies like Adidas and Nike make £12.76 (almost R300) profit. Marketing and distribution account for other costs. The mark-up makes a huge profit for sportswear firms and retailers. Workers in the Far East who make the kits earn less than 80p an hour. But in clear defiance of inflationary pressures, the latest Pirates ladies replicas are ‘sold out’ if their website is to believed – paid for by their boyfriends or husbands, quipped a chauvinistic friend.
PSL CLUBS REPLICA T-SHIRTS
PRICING
Amazulu FC; R699
Chippa United; R449
Cape Town City; R599
Cape Town Spurs; R1 395
Golden Arrows; R499
Kaizer Chiefs; R1 099
Mamelodi Sundowns; R1 099
Moroka Swallows; R899
Orlando Pirates; R1 199
Royal AM; R500
SuperSport United; R899
Richards Bay; R360
Sekhukhune FC; N/A
Stellenbosch FC; R595
TS Galaxy; R650
Polokwane City N/A
Probably out of a conscious decision not to high-press their supporters, Chippa United and Lamontville Golden Arrows replicas seem the most affordable retailing at R449 and R499 respectively. It does not get better even for the juniors or kiddies stuff. For a junior shirt a parent should be prepared to part with R899 if a Big Three supporter. Sobering news for local supporters of overseas-based clubs is that for a Manchester United or Arsenal original replica bought online, be prepared to splurge R2 199.00 per item. A Real Madrid replica is priced at R999.00 each.
It’s not clear how much revenue PSL teams derive from the sale of these replicas – clubs would not divulge – but research will show retailers earn the most from mark-ups, raking in £18.13 (about R220) per shirt.
Shockingly is that millions of fans snap up the latest kit before each season and many believe they are supporting their clubs. A Premier League club shirt sells at an average £49.45 (R900) but costs less than £5 (about R120) to produce – with clubs only making £3 (R70) per top. Kit companies like Adidas and Nike make £12.76 (almost R300) profit. Marketing and distribution account for other costs. The mark-up makes a huge profit for sportswear firms and retailers. Workers in the Far East who make the kits earn less than 80p an hour. But in clear defiance of inflationary pressures, the latest Pirates ladies replicas are ‘sold out’ if their website is to believed – paid for by their boyfriends or husbands, quipped a chauvinistic friend.
PSL CLUBS REPLICA T-SHIRTS
PRICING
Amazulu FC; R699
Chippa United; R449
Cape Town City; R599
Cape Town Spurs; R1 395
Golden Arrows; R499
Kaizer Chiefs; R1 099
Mamelodi Sundowns; R1 099
Moroka Swallows; R899
Orlando Pirates; R1 199
Royal AM; R500
SuperSport United; R899
Richards Bay; R360
Sekhukhune FC; N/A
Stellenbosch FC; R595
TS Galaxy; R650
Polokwane City N/A
