Silver face race against time to sell replicas

Silver Strikers face a race against time to market their 1 000 replicas as the 2022 TNM Super League season is drawing to a close.

The club, which has six matches to wind up the season, only received its jersey and 200 replicas in June.

In an interview yesterday, Silver Strikers communications and fan engagement officer David Daniel Dauda could not say how the replicas are faring on the market.

“We are not ready with a comment since it’s just weeks since their arrival. We will update at the opportune time,” he said.

Currently the jersey is selling at K20 000

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda admitted that it might be tough to market them  there is need for publicity.

He said: “In marketing, sports merchandise like replicas, first there is need for maximum and vibrant publicity. The second thing is to consider market segmentation in relation to pricing.

“How many of their can afford to buy a jersey K20 000? Not many. They should have considered all market segments. One quality for the middle and high class and also one for the commoner selling at say K5000.”

Nyirenda said local clubs compete with EPL clubs on the market for replica shirts.

“We have Silver supporters who follow, for example Arsenal in England. When it comes to choice they would rather buy a cheap copy of Arsenal jersey at the market selling at K5 000 because they can’t buy a Silver replica at K20 000.

Despite Silver placing an order in February, the consignment just arrived recently.

In a separate interview the club’s chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali attributed the delay to forex shortage.

“We had to queue for forex. Government had to prioritise imports. That is the reason it took so long,” he said.