A businessman, Mr Isaac Fayose has said that Shooting Star Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) is losing not less than five billion naira annually by under-estimating the prospects in merchandise.
Fayose told newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday that foreign football clubs
attained huge financial base from the exploration of merchandise, which 3SC had failed to explore.
He noted that Nigerians patronise Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea tee-shirts, bags, jerseys and the like. But he bemoaned the fact that he had never come across any item bearing 3SC, saying that this was what the foreign clubs were making good fortunes from.
“3SC is supposed to be making nothing less than five billion naira
annually from these if effectively and efficiently explored,” he said.
The businessman, who wondered what the government was doing by owning and running football clubs, said that football clubs could only grow outside government control, adding that foreign clubs are run by investors and supporters.
Fayose, whose business interest runs in media, entertainment and private security guards, disclosed that a Turkish-based die-hard fan of the Oluyole Warriors had in 2004 proposed to buy 51 percent stake of 3SC but was summoned to the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu’s house, where he
was asked to drop the idea.
He lamented that 3SC was a big club in the continent and was not supposed to be where it was today.
“A friend and die-hard fan of 3SC, who is based in Turkey, had also signified
interest in taking over the ownership of the club in the past but some people said it was an Ibadan property.
“I had also seen how politicians and people who don’t know about football management are undermining the greatness capacity of that club. A situation where political office holders would just come on match day requesting for 200 tickets for his people without paying would never help the club attain any profitability and financial independence,” he said.
Fayose called on the referees to always be fair in their officiating, and the League Management Committee to be more committed to moving the league to greater heights.
