Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-04 21:00:00
Kenya Police Football Club found themselves in the midst of controversy when they decided to raise ticket prices for their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match against Gor Mahia by an alarming seven-fold. The normal turnstile prices at the Kenya Police Sacco Stadium are Sh200 for the terraces and Sh500 for the VIP seats, but for Saturday’s match, the prices were increased to Sh1,500 for the terraces, Sh2,000 for the VIP section, and a further Sh3,000 for VVIP tickets.
This decision not only goes against the spirit of sportsmanship and fairness, but it also undermines the efforts to encourage fans to attend stadium matches and show support for long-suffering club football. While there are no strict regulations concerning entry fees, allowing the home team to significantly increase ticket prices to unprecedented levels is deplorable and insulting to fans. Even matches that have attracted some of the highest spectator numbers, such as those featuring Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, or more recently, Shabana FC and Murang’a Seal, have not charged such exorbitant fees under the guise of crowd control measures.
If Kenya Police FC were unable to host their match against Gor Mahia at the Nyayo National Stadium or Ulinzi Sports Complex due to hooliganism cases involving Gor fans, alternative solutions should have been sought rather than punishing fans with ridiculous ticket prices. The victory of Police in Saturday’s fixture, with a score of 3-1, runs the risk of being attributed to the intimidation of faithful Gor fans at the turnstiles, who were denied the opportunity to play the role of the 12th man with their vocal support for the club.
The current season has seen a gradual return of fans to football matches, with minimal cases of hooliganism being recorded, which bodes well for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The success of the tournament, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania, will rely heavily on fan turnout and spectator interest – a tide that Kenya Police FC unfortunately seems to be swimming against.
Football ultimately belongs to the fans, and efforts to increase the popularity of the sport cannot be achieved by alienating them through exorbitant ticket prices. It is important for clubs and authorities to work together to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for fans to enjoy the game. Revising the decision to spike ticket prices and working towards better solutions for crowd control will not only benefit the fans but also contribute to the growth and success of football in the country.
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