Cash-strapped Gor Mahia risk missing trip to Congo
Kenyan Premier League champions are grappling with a serious financial shortfall that could see them fail to honour next weekend’s return leg of the African Champions League first round tie against AC Leopards of Congo.
The situation is looking desperate after a fundraiser on Tuesday night at the Nairobi Club to help raise the Sh 5.5 million needed for the team to honour match only realized a paltry Sh 510,000.
With no shirt sponsor, times have been tough for K’Ogalo who have been depending on gate collections to generate revenue.
But with no home fixture last weekend, the team’s coffers are virtually empty ahead of their planned departure on Friday.
Speaking at the function that was snubbed by politicians, club chairman, Ambrose Rachier, admitted that the team is in dire need for a bailout.
“We plan to travel with a contingent of 30 – including players and officials. But unless we get that amount (Sh 5.2 million), we might fail to honour the trip and accept to face repercussions from Caf,” Rachier said.
FANS AND WELL-WISHERS
Rachier is now calling on fans and well-wishers to chip in to enable the team make the trip to Congo.
The last time out, when Gor Mahia travelled to Madagascar, in the previous round of the competition, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth was reported to have purchased the team’s return air tickets.
Rachier said that the greatest challenge facing the team is how “to clean up its image” to appeal to corporates.
“The money we get from broadcast sponsors SuperSport and league title sponsors Tusker, is not enough to sustain the club,” he said.
At the same time, Nairobi City Stars chairman Peter Jabuya, has said his club will donate proceeds from their gate collection during Wednesday’s match against Bandari to Gor Mahia.
“Donating the gate proceeds is something I committed to during the fundraiser. I asked the club to talk to their fans to turn up in large numbers for our game to raise good cash that could help them,” Jabuya said.