Asante Kotoko fans will have to endure an unforgettable jab from their bitterest rivals Hearts of Oak as their CEO Mark Noonan insinuates their ‘Strike’ branded jerseys as China-made.

With the perception that China goods are inferior, the insinuation of the Hearts CEO seeks to suggest that the Kotoko outfits are of less quality compared to the Umbro-branded outfits of the Phobians.

Adding to the debate of which of the outfits is of quality standard, Noonan silenced the numerous Kotoko fans who have raised issues with the production cost of the replica jerseys to be borne by the Phobians.

Admitting that the replica jerseys must be at the cost of the club because they will sell to their fans to break even, Noonan explained that the replica jerseys for the Phobians are taking time to arrive because their world-class manufacturers are taking their time to manufacture quality outfits.

“It’s not like I can go and get plenty of replica jerseys from an unknown or no-name brand from CHINA and get it quickly done.

“We are dealing with a world class supplier that has really lived a long time, and they had a production meeting this morning (January 28, 2019) that they are going to come back to me with the shirts they have after the production meeting, but the jerseys are in production right now,” Noonan told Fox FM in Kumasi.

Hearts announced a kit sponsorship deal with Umbro late last year

Noonan’s China-made shirts comment has already generated mixed reactions among football fans particularly Asante Kotoko fans.

Despite not mentioning Asante Kotoko, Noonan’s comment was well-understood by many especially at a time when Kotoko’s replica jerseys from Strike arrived in the country not long ago.