Not many people will remember the name Gerald Fiki, the young entrepreneur who became the first officially recognized vendor when he was approved to sell Amakhosi merchandise at all home game earlier this week.

The official recognition of vendors and the issuing of licenses for a small fee which comes with a bib and an accreditation which gives them the right to sell goods, within the perimeters of the stadium demonstrates the club’s willingness to assist informal traders who have been selling counterfeit products over the years - by entering a mean stream programme set up by the club whereby they will be supplied with official merchandise and will be given the protection of being able to sell at the stadium.

When Chiefs begin their home games for the 2006 – 2007 season next Wednesday against Jomo Cosmos, with it will be unveiled the club’s new heavy-handed tactics, as it in conjunction with its various licensees will be out to curb the tide of counterfeit goods sold at Chiefs games.

Chiefs Brand Manager Dara Carroll explains further “over the past year we have embarked on various initiatives whereby we have spoken with our vendors and have worked to bring them under one umbrella. We would like for them to co-operate with us so that firstly we have an organized way of selling at the stadiums, secondly so that we could help them continue earning their livelihood but instead of selling counterfeit products they will now be selling official merchandise”.

Entrepreneurs thinking of selling counterfeit products within the vicinity of the stadium should be wary of the fact that The club will be policing the perimeters of the stadium in order to clear the stadium and its environs of vendors selling counterfeit products.

As the Amakhosi Brand Manager explains further “during the SAA Supa8 ¼ Final match against Golden Arrows we did clear out a number of vendors from the stadium who were selling counterfeit goods. We will continue doing so for the rest of the season and we will charge those responsible for supplying and selling the said goods. For those vendors selling fake goods the door is open to them to join the vendor programme – they can be trained and make a living selling Kaizer Chiefs licensed product ”.

Earlier in the year the club set up a counterfeit hotline where supporters could report retailers selling fake Kaizer Chiefs gear. The SMS hotline number is 34134 has proved to be very successful as the police services have been able to follow up on leads given to them by concerned supporters. The club is committed to rooting out the sale of illegal products at its games and will continue to assist those wishing to be part of the vending process, and will take a zero tolerance attitude to persons wanting to sell fake goods at Chiefs games.

Kaizer Chiefs are delighted to welcome Gerald Fika as the first registered Vendor at Kaizer Chiefs who will be part of the History of Kaizer Chiefs.