The highly anticipated match between Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) heavyweights Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards Football Clubs, dubbed the Mashemeji derby, has been postponed.
The clash, which had originally been scheduled for Sunday, May 11, was postponed indefinitely due to the unavailability of a venue.
Gor Mahia Secretary General Nick Arum confirmed the postponement on Thursday following a directive from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which ruled out the use of the Moi International Sports Centre due to ongoing renovations.
Arum revealed that the club declined a proposal by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to move the match to Ulinzi Sports Complex.
“They (FKF) wanted us to play the game at Ulinzi Sports Complex, but we have rejected such a proposal. The derby will be played later this month on a date and at a venue that is convenient for both our fans and those of AFC Leopards,” Arum told the Daily Nation.
However, it’s worth noting that the Gor Secretary General does not have the authority to unilaterally postpone a league fixture as such decisions fall under the FKF’s Leagues and Competitions Committee.
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Gor Mahia issues update
FKF had not issued an update on the fate of the match by the time of publication.
Gor Mahia had earlier dismissed reports of a possible postponement of the Mashemeji derby in a post on X while encouraging fans to continue purchasing derby tickets online, citing no official communication regarding the cancellation or postponement of the big match.
“If there are any changes, we will communicate them promptly. In the event the match is rescheduled, your tickets will remain valid and can be used on the new date,” said Gor.
Only five rounds of matches remain in the season, with the final games scheduled for May 31. FKF is expected to submit the name of the league winner to CAF by July 1.
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The derby was initially set to be staged at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which has been under renovation since August 2023 in preparation for both the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Confederation of African Football objects use of Kasarani stadium
CAF however, objected to this, citing ongoing renovations and the need to preserve the pitch ahead of the delayed CHAN in August.
This decision came after officials from AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia met with FKF and Sports Stadia management on Tuesday.
The group had earlier agreed to host the match at Kasarani.
FKF Secretary Harold Ndege confirmed the match would be held at the stadium, stating that the federation was directly involved to ensure maximum security.
However, reports emerged that Gor Mahia was not willing to risk the safety of its fans following the chaos that erupted during their recent fixture against Shabana at Gusii Stadium. Several Gor supporters were injured during the clashes.
Gor in a strongly worded letter on May 6, signed by Chairman Ambrose Rachier, criticised how the situation at Gusii Stadium was handled. The letter also vowed that the club would never return to the venue.
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