This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
SportPesa Shutdown Threatens Gor Mahia's Participation in Caf Champions League ¶
Published on July 16, 2019, the standoff between SportPesa and the government has left Gor Mahia, the reigning Kenya Premier League champions, in a precarious situation.
The club's chairman, Ambrose Rachier, has expressed concerns that the impasse could put Gor's participation in the Caf Champions League at risk. Rachier stated, 'It is doom and gloom. It is our prayer that the standoff between the government and betting firms is resolved amicably.'
He added, 'Of course we understand the position of the government, but whatever action they take they should also consider the sports industry. SportPesa and other betting companies have invested millions of shillings.'
Ingwe's Dan Shikanda echoed Rachier's sentiments, emphasizing that the club relies heavily on SportPesa funding. 'Ingwe depends a hundred per cent on SportPesa funding. We simply don’t know where we go from here,' he said.
The shutdown of SportPesa's operations has been attributed to the government's decision to revoke the licenses of 27 betting firms, including SportPesa. The Betting Control and Licensing Board boss, Liti Wambua, directed mobile money transfer service providers to withdraw their pay bill numbers used by the affected companies.
As a result, Gor Mahia is facing financial uncertainty ahead of the new season, with the club's chairman urging the government to consider the sports industry in their decision-making process.
