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'Mashemeji' Derby postponed for second time
Gor Mahia players celebrate Austin Odhiambo's goal during the 'Mashemeji' derby against AFC Leopards at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 21, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Gor Mahia lie third on the 18-team league table on 36 points while Leopards are fifth on 34 points.
- Leaders, Kenya Police are on top with 41 points from 22 matches followed by Tusker who drew 1-1 with Shabana yesterday to reach 40 points.
The eagerly anticipate Football Kenya Federation Premier League first leg clash between traditional rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia has been postponed for the second time this season over lack of a suitable venue.
AFC Leopards secretary general Gilbert Andugu Wednesday confirmed they, as the home team, had been unable to secure a venue capable of hosting this high-risk fixture that is the most attended in the FKF club calendar.
The fixture was scheduled to be held on Sunday, first at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani then at Nyayo Stadium according to Leopards all through this week before the postponement.
This very same fixture was indeed postponed on November 24 at the 11th hour because of lack of a suitable venue. It was to have been held at Kasarani.
Suggestions to host the tie behind closed doors were shot down by the two sets of fans.
The confusion over Sunday’s “Mashemeji” derby venue had persisted the whole of Wednesday. While Leopards chairman, Dan Shikanda has said that the government had allowed the club to use Nyayo National Stadium to host the big match, FKF Secretary general Harold Ndege stated they had been unable to secure the 30,000-capacity facility for the fixture.
Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre are currently under renovation ahead of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championships now scheduled for August.
“We wrote to Sports Kenya and they have given as Nyayo after the unavailability of Kasarani,” said Shikanda, who is also the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) NEC Member representing Nairobi County.
However, Ndege, contradicted the Leopards boss.
“We left them lobbying to secure Nyayo because the only available venue is Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. Ulinzi Sports Complex management has also rejected the idea of the game being staged there fearing losses in case of chaos,” said Ndege.
Nyayo and Kasarani have been shut for over a year to undergo renovations ahead of the August Chan and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Both tournaments will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Shikanda even suggested holding the fixture in Tanzania or Uganda. Leopards and Gor are both firmly in the title race and have been earnestly preparing for the match as the two sets of fans exchanged banter on social media.
Gor Mahia lie third on the 18-team league table on 36 points while Leopards are fifth on 34 points.
Leaders, Kenya Police are on top with 41 points from 22 matches followed by Tusker who drew 1-1 with Shabana yesterday to reach 40 points.
The two giants drew 0-0 in the first leg of the 2022/2023 season, before Leopards claimed a rare 2-1 win at Nyayo National Stadium in the reverse fixture.