This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
Published on August 27, 2019, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has given the green light to Machakos Stadium to host international matches involving Gor Mahia and the national women's football team, but with a catch – fans will not be allowed in the stadium.
The decision, made in response to a request by Football Kenya Federation (FKF), has plunged the football industry into a crisis of sorts as it denies the federation and the Kenya Premier League club's management the much-needed revenue from gate collections.
The lack of alternatives has also denied the Machakos County government much-needed revenue and hindered local football fans from cheering their favorite players as they compete against top teams on the continent.
According to a letter signed by Caf's Deputy General Secretary Football and Development Anthony Baffoe, the decision was made due to concerns over the safety and security of fans and players at the Machakos facility, citing the fragility of the perimeter fence.
‘Concerning the request received on August 1, 2019, in order to temporarily use Machakos Stadium for the matches involving Gor Mahia FC (CAF CL Preliminaries) August 24 and 25 and the Senior National Women Team (Olympic Qualifiers) on September 1, please note Caf decided to approve your request,’ the letter reads in part.
‘However, due to the fact that the stadium is not an approved stadium, please note both matches must be played behind closed doors.’
The lack of quality stadiums in the country has been a major concern, with analysts attributing it to the poor standards of football in the country.
