Reprieve for cash strapped Gor, AFC after Uhuru gives Sh24million to each

Kenyan football heavyweights AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia on Sunday benefited immensely from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s generosity after they received Sh12 million each.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader and presidential hopeful Raila Odinga made the revelations while addressing an ecstatic fan base who had gathered outside the Moi Stadium, Kasarani, after the Mashemeji derby pitting AFC Leopards against Gor Mahia.

“Each of the teams will get Sh2 million that will go to the players.

The President has also given a further Sh20 million that will be shared equally by both clubs.

The money will help them cater for their remaining fixtures,” Raila said. Raila also said there are plans to hire well-qualified coaches who will be tasked with raising local football standards to international levels.

“We have agreed to bring professional coaches who can help nurture our talents here in Kenya so that we can produce good players like Victor Wanyama who played for Tottenham Hotspurs,” Raila said.

President Kenyatta and his Azimio la Umoja counterpart Raila Odinga had led other leaders in watching the Mashemeji Derby between the two archrivals which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and a host of other government officials also witnessed the mouth-watering fixture.

In the much-awaited Mashemeji derby Gor Mahia FC hit back in the second half to draw AFC Leopards 1-1 at the Kasarani Stadium on Sunday as honours were shared.

Victor Omune had put Leopards 1-0 up at halftime and the hosts pulled level through Benson Omalla to keep their six-year FKF Premier League unbeaten derby streak intact.

In another KPL fixture, Tusker FC defeated Kakamega Homeboyz 2-0 to trim the leaders’ advantage down to just one point with five games to go until the end of the season.

The result in Ruaraka means Homeboyz have butchered their 10-point lead at the summit whittled down to just one with goals from Ibrahim Joshua and Deogratious Ojok responsible for their latest reverse.