Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards officials have condemned Sunday’s violence that rocked the Kenya Power Charity Cup match at Nyayo National Stadium.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Sam Nyamweya
FKF boss Sam Nyamweya held a meeting with the two club chairmen together with Nairobi police boss Moses Ombati yesterday and resolved to put in place tougher penalties for offenders.
In a joint statement, Nyamweya, together with Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards chairmen Ambrose Rachier and Allan Kasavuli, urged the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) to install all round camera surveillance in the stadium.
“It was resolved that the two clubs will help in identifying rogue fans to be punished,” said the joint statement.
The police were also urged to be strategic in dealing with hooliganism instead of just using tear gas to disperse crowds.
The two clubs also supported the federation’s position that a special police unit be created by the Government to deal with hooliganism.
Rallying call
Meanwhile, Gor Mahia captain Jerim Onyango wants fans to stand behind them as they return to the champions league for the first time since 1996.
Gor Mahia take on Union Sporting Bittam of Gabon in Saturday’s first leg, first round of the CAF Champions League fixture at Nyayo Stadium after a disappointing performance in the Kenya Power Charity Cup.
Onyango said the semi-final exit from the Charity Cup – going down 3-1 to Sofapaka –was a wake-up call for the squad and it has helped them rectify their mistakes before the crucial continental fixture.
“We simply did not take our chances during the first half of our match against Sofapaka and we were punished for it. We were not expecting this kind of result and obviously everyone is disappointed.
Better performance
“However on a positive note, perhaps it was good for us to lose to be made aware of where we really are. We are more than determined to make up for it with a better performance on Saturday and we want to ask our fans to rally behind us as they have always done in the past,” said Onyango.
The last time Gor participated in the Champions League was 1996 and the team was edged out of the first round, but the custodian believes they have what it takes to go further this year.
“The coach has brought in experienced and skilled players determined to perform at the highest level. With such a squad, I believe we can go further than the first round where we reached last time we played in the tournament,” he added.
Elsewhere, Gor Mahia’s opponents were expected to arrive in the country yesterday evening. The team is parading a star-studded squad led by former Cameroonian Star François Oman Biyick, who is currently on the club’s technical bench.
The playing unit consists of five national team players, who did duty for their country in the just-concluded CHAN championships held in South Africa. The team has players from Cameroon and the Central African Republic as well as Nigeria.
By GILBERT WANDERA, The Standard
