Gor Mahia cancel Azam FC friendly amid hefty fines, ban by FKF
Gor Mahia have cancelled a scheduled friendly match versus Tanzanian moneybags Azam FC.
The clash was slated for Nairobi on November 19, 2023, but Nairobi News understands Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has not given clearance for the match to happen.
The move comes a day after FKF’s League and Competition committee fined Gor Mahia Sh500,000 for the crowd trouble witnessed during the team’s last match versus Murang’a Seal at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani.
FKF has also ordered Gor to play its next five league matches without fans, a punishment the club has indicated it will appeal and urged its fans to keep calm as they tackle the issue head-on.
Earlier in the week, Sports Kenya, a government body mandated to manage stadiums, also banned Gor Mahia from using the Kasarani Stadium, until they pay a Sh1.9 million slapped on them for the damages caused by its fans at Kasarani.
The fine arose after Sports Kenya’s technical team assessed the damages caused to electrical tunnels, seats wooden panels, and other facilities.
Gor Mahia’s Chief Executive Ray Oruo read mischief in denying them a chance to play Azam.
In the letter he addressed to Azam, Oruo stated FKF had not given the friendly match the go-ahead.
“FKF has declined to give authorisation for the match to take place. We regret any inconvenience caused in future,” said the letter. Ironically, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) in a letter to FKF on November 16, 2023, okayed the friendly game which falls on the Fifa International break
“There was no need for FKF to decline because we are still within a window to appeal their fine of Sh500,000 and a five-match ban on our fans. What they did is not fair and there is a sinister move behind this,” Oruo said.
K’Ogalo Secretary General Sam Ochola had earlier apologised to Sports Kenya for the vandalism that occurred and promised that the club would handle the issue with the authority to reach an amicable solution.
This is the second time in a year that Gor Mahia has invited Azam FC for a friendly only for the match to be aborted before kick-off.
On the other occasion, Gor also accused FKF of failing to okay the match.
Also, Gor were at the start of the season expelled from competing in the Caf Africa Champions League by the tournament organisers owing to some pay-disputes with former players.
Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier recently accused the club’s ‘enemies’ of being behind the woes.
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