TAZ wrote:@ elba.....The issue here is how the league clubs can build a fan base.
Besides Players in those lower level teams would all wish to play for the likes of Tusker because they are a proffessional club..
You've just contradicted yourself. First you say the issue is how clubs can build a fan base then you change the subject to whether players from lower divisions would like to play for Tusker which has nothing to do with the topic at hand.
Quote: I believe once you get into the Premier league everything changes, you have to run the club in a proffessional way which in most cases means shifting all you home matches away from your fans.
The bolded hardly makes sense at all. Why would a club move games away from their fans ?
Quote:You also have to hold on to your top players and at the same time sign good players who can keep you competitive in the league....thats the point where most clubs lose their fan base.
THis also does not make sense at all. Why would holding onto your top players make a team loose its fan base ?
Quote:Gor and AFC used to be community clubs but not anymore, they have fans all over the country.
Gor Mahia and AFC are still community teams as is Shabana. And yes even in the 1960s and 70s they had fans from all over the country. But then as now, their core fan base comes from those ethnic groups.
That is why AFC plays many of their home games in Mumias and Gor Mahia tours Nyanza province every year. They are reconnecting with their fans.
Quote:It was easier for them to get build their fan base because of their history.
Tusker has a long history since 1973. How come their history has not helped them build a fan base.
Quote:Like you said its all about marketing, these corporate clubs need to find away of popularising their brand.
Corporate teams have never been crowd pullers in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria or anywhere else.
Being a football fan is about passion and nobody can be passionate about corporate teams. In African countries and even South America, coprorate teams are poor crowd pullers compared to community teams.
Do you know of any corporate teams that have a large fan base ?
I personally dont know of any.
In Nigeria there have been many corporate teams over the years but the most popular teams remain community teams like Enugu Rangers and IICC shootings stars.
Quote:
We have several community clubs in the league who don't have a big fan base so clearly that's not the answer.....Mathare Utd is a good example.
You are right about Mathare not having a fan base. The same applies to Thika United. They have done a shoddy job at connecting with Thika residents.
But the fact of the matter is that throughout the history of Kenya the crowd pullers have always been community teams. An excellent example is Congo United who played in the league last year. They had only been in the league for one year yet they already had a core group of committed passionate fans. Something teams like Tusker can never achieve.
Shabana football club has been in the lower divisions for the past 10 years yet they still have a core group of committed passionate fans. Go look at their facebook page if you dont believe me. If they were ever to return to the top league, they too will be crowd pullers.