FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia reportedly rejected FKF’s proposal to host the Mashemeji Derby against AFC Leopards at the Ulinzi Sports Complex with Kasarani Stadium unavailable.
The postponement of the Mashemeji Derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards has attracted a lot of divided opinion as the fixture’s fate remains uncertain.
The fixture, which was originally scheduled for Sunday at Kasarani, could not go ahead as scheduled as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued a directive against hosting the clash at the ground earmarked for the 2024 African Nations Championship in August.
The continental showpiece is poised to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
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Gor Mahia utilized their lack of a fixture this weekend with an in-house clash following their postponed Mashemeji Derby.
Why Mashemeji Derby Fate Remains in Limbo
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FKF issued warning ahead of the postponed Mashemeji Derby clash between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards at Kasarani Stadium.
However, on the backdrop of Kasarani being unavailable, a couple of options had been explored, with FKF offering the FKF Premier League champions the Ulinzi Sports Complex as an alternative venue, with Nyayo Stadium also currently unavailable due to the laying of tartan tracks.
The 21-time champions, however, opted against the offering, instead choosing to postpone the highly anticipated clash.
Why Gor Mahia Was Justified to Reject FKF’s Directive
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Gor Mahia goalkeeper Gad Mathews contests for the ball with AFC Leopards’ Victor Omune in 96th Mashemeji Derby. (Photo Courtesy)
Sports lawyer Japheth Munyendo has shed light on why Gor Mahia were in the right to decline FKF’s proposal to host the match at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Speaking to Citizen TV, the sports lawyer argued that any security lapse witnessed during the Mashemeji Derby, had it been hosted at the ground, should have been on the hosts, Gor Mahia, potentially risking CAF sanctions.
“It was as per the recommendation of CAF officers, so it’s totally in order for them to bow to the calls and the pressures of FKF,” said Munyendo on Gor Mahia’s Mashemeji Derby postponement.
“That as it may, you know there’s always been a joke between Gor and Ulinzi KDF—who is the real Sirkal—but in the events preceding the postponement, I came to agree with Gor Mahia because they are the ones who actually postponed the fixture before even FKF issued the letter,” he added.
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The veteran sports lawyer continued to argue why K’Ogalo were in the right to postpone the fixture rather than play it at Ulinzi.
“The league—all the leagues in Kenya—are run under FKF statutes and the FKF constitution. So the current league is run under the FKF Rules and Regulations 2019. My reading of Rule 341, 351, and 961—one of the cardinal roles of hosting or a home team is to find a match venue. That is Rule 341. And also to guarantee and provide security—it is also the role of the home team,” Munyendo noted.
“Sometimes when there will be issues, then the security lapses can be attributed to the home team. So Gor Mahia were right to postpone the fixture, given that—out of probably their own intelligence and the volatility of the fixture—they expected probably there would have been a security lapse. So it was proper.”
The volatile fixture came on the back of a Gor Mahia high-stakes clash against Shabana at Gusii Stadium, which was marred by chaos.
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What followed was a war of words between Gor Mahia, FKF, and Shabana on which party was truly responsible.
The Mashemeji Derby, which has also had its own share of violence in the past, was seen as enduring a similar fate, if not worse.
Additionally, Gor Mahia rued missing the opportunity to cash in on the massive gate collections, such as those witnessed during the first leg when Leopards hosted Gor at Nyayo Stadium.
With the fixture’s fate still uncertain, other avenues are being explored, including holding the clash behind closed doors.
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