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‘Mashemeji derby’ raised Sh3.1m compared to Dar derby’s Sh24.3m

Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 00:00 | By
AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia stewards engage in a fist fight during the Sunday derby at Kasarani. KPL has called on the respective clubs to punish the culprits. Photo/KELLY AYODI (SPORTPICHA)

Sunday’s ‘Mashemeji Derby’ between sworn rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia realised Sh 3.1 million from gate collections, a big contrast the Dar es Salaam derby which raised Sh24.3 million on the same day.

The local derby where Gor emerged 1-0 winners over host team Leopards, fans were paying Sh500 and Sh200 for tickets and it is estimated that around 10, 000 fans attended the match.

“We only sold terraces tickets which were going for Sh500 and Sh200. The VIP tickets were going for Sh1,000, but we didn’t sell any because the State took over the entire VIP area,” AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda told People Sport.

In Tanzania where Yanga stunned arch rivals and pre-match favourites Simba by a similar 1-0 margin in front of President John Maghufuli and Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad at the national stadium which has a seating capacity of 60,000,  fans started streaming in as early as 11am for the 4pm kick-off and filled it to the brim.

Speaking to People Sport on phone, Yanga’s Secretary General David Luhago said they charged Sh1,350 (Tsh30, 000) for VIP A, Sh900 (Tsh 20,000) for VIP B and C. Terraces cost Sh 450 (Tsh10,000) and Sh310 (Tsh7,000).

“This is a an increase of Sh268, 000 (Tsh 6 million) from the last time the two sides met. It is an encouraging thing for the sport in the country, because any sport without fans is boring,” said Luhago.

It was Luc Eymael’s first derby win and it was against all odds, given Simba’s current form in local and continental matches. The former AFC Leopards tactician joined Yanga in January from South Africa top league side Black Stars.

Meanwhile, Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Chief Executive Officer Jack Oguda has called on AFC Leopards and Gor to discipline the stewards who were involved in a fist fight during the derby to curb violence in future fixtures pitting the two sides.

Things turned ugly when a section of stewards from both teams, engaged in a fist fight after a disagreement and it took the intervention of regular police to stop the fight.

“Stewards are contracted by individual teams and they are the ones who should identify them and discipline the culprits so that we don’t witness such a thing in future,” said Oguda.

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