This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
Kenyan football fans are left worried as Gor Mahia's trip to Algeria for a CAF Champions League match hangs in the balance. The team's fundraiser, held in Nairobi just four days before their scheduled match against USM Alger, failed to meet its Sh5 million target.
According to Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, the fundraiser managed to raise less than Sh1 million in cash and pledges, leaving the team with a significant budget deficit of over Sh4 million.
The team's financial woes are further compounded by the fact that players are yet to receive their August salaries, with some already facing difficulties in paying their rents. Rachier has appealed to well-wishers to help the team travel to Algeria, warning that failure to do so may attract a hefty penalty from the continental football body (CAF), including monetary fines and suspension from continental matches.
Gor Mahia had earlier reached the second round of the CAF Club Championship after defeating Burundi's Aigle Noir 5-1 on aggregate. The team's opponents, USM Alger, were also reported to be facing financial difficulties, but the bigger loser in this situation could be Gor Mahia if they fail to travel to Algeria.
As the team struggles to find a solution to their financial crisis, questions are being raised about the independence of Kenyan football teams and their reliance on well-wishers for financial support. Gor Mahia currently has no sponsor, and their former betting firm sponsors had to chip in to pay players' salaries in July.
