Counterfeit Souvenirs Being Sold In South Africa for FIFA 2010
With the football world cup set to start in South Africa on the 11th of June, the excitement in the host country is reaching its peak with the rainbow nation engrossed in the greatest sporting occasion of the year.
As the tournament draws nearer, the rush for merchandise related to the event is being sold at an all time high demand.
On the other hand the manufacturers of the merchandise in the host country are facing an enormous challenge as markets across the country are getting inundated by supply of counterfeit merchandise.
The counterfeit merchandise spread across major streets in the country is harming the manufacturing industry, including FIFA's official World Cup suppliers thousands of dollars in lost sales.
Fake t-shirts, flags and other souvenirs is the hottest commodity in the country, with people queuing up in big numbers as the merchandise is sold like hotcakes. At a sports apparel store in Abidjan recently, official Ivory Coast jerseys were being sold for 39,900 francs ($75), which is more than the average Ivorian makes in a month.
The recent surge in the chase for the merchandise has reached its peak as the tournament draws ever closer and now just over a week away.
The very loving South African nation have been encouraged to purchase the specially made merchandise of "Bafana Bafana" the nickname given to the national team shirts, to show their support for the hosts in the upcoming football world cup.
In support and affection of their national team, buying these t-shirts for this memorable event; on the flip side many people have complained bitterly about the high cost of the official Adidas jerseys in these struggling economic times.
The sky rocketing price tags have led to the high sales for fake shirts; naturally there is a rush for the lower priced knock-off shirts available via traders often based at traffic lights.
Street vendors and flea market owners say they are constantly under police surveillance, which also confiscate the merchandise they sell.
But it has yet to stop them; the media is claiming that the World Cup being hosted in this developing country is economic opportunity for them.
"I am feeling the World Cup, I am very happy it has come to my country in South Africa," thirty-two-year-old street vendor Sipho Mlambo said.
"I was wishing that the World Cup will bring something for me, even my family to get something."
Another street vendor, Philemon Sigauke, added the counterfeit sales were helping keep his family feed and educated.
"I am selling here, to get some money for food and also to take my children to school," he said.
South African customs officials and police recently discovered large amounts of fake goods at Johannesburg Airport.
The officials also cracked down other locations around the country and were able to track down $2.5 million dollars worth of national team shirts.
The counterfeit jerseys, which were made in China, were destined for other countries in the African continent Swaziland and Mozambique.
"Everybody in South Africa whether it's citizens or visitors, they should not support this market, they should not buy these goods because it has a serious impact on the economy, " said National Police Spokesperson Colonel Vishnu Naidoo.
"It contributes to more and more job losses because remember especially now for example the Bafana Bafana t-shirts, it is supposed to be manufactured here”
With the tournament capturing the interest of the entire world, it remains to be seen if the authorities in the host nation can crack the whip, and come to the rescue of genuine merchandise manufacturers.
A genuine replica jersey of the "Bafana Bafana" team is sold at licensed shops in South Africa for nearly £60, compared to the fake ones that can be found for as low as £10.
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