This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
Kenyan champions Gor Mahia are facing a financial crisis after their fundraiser in Nairobi on Tuesday night failed to meet its target.
The event, which was attended by a few guests, raised Sh300,000 in cash and a further Sh1 million in pledges, far less than the club's target of Sh5 million.
Club chairman Ambrose Rachier expressed his disappointment at the low turnout, saying, "The fundraiser was given a wide berth and most of those we had invited didn’t show up. Even the guest of honour didn’t come. We are in a very bad situation."
“The fundraiser was given a wide berth and most of those we had invited didn’t show up. Even the guest of honour didn’t come. We are in a very bad situation,” Rachier said. The club's financial woes are compounded by the withdrawal of funding by sponsors SportPesa last month, leaving the club coffers empty. Former Kenyan international McDonald Mariga, who had indicated that he would attend the fundraiser, was also a no-show. The team is set to travel to Algeria to play USM Algers in a Caf Africa Champions League assignment on Sunday, but with their financial situation uncertain, they are hoping for government assistance to cover the cost of return air tickets.
