Sports

Gor Mahia ordered to apologize for false statement regarding 1 million cash reward

Tuesday, June 7th, 2022 19:44 | By
Washington Munene of AFC Leopards (left) and Boniface Omondi of Gor Mahia FC fight for the ball during their FKF-PL match played at Kasarani Stadium, last year. PD/ RODGERS NDEGWA
Washington Munene of AFC Leopards (left) and Boniface Omondi of Gor Mahia FC fight for the ball during their FKF-PL match played at Kasarani Stadium, last year. PHOTO/Rodgers Ndegwa

The Ministry of Sports has ordered Gor Mahia football club to apologize for misleading the public about the prize money won by the club after their Madaraka Day Cup triumph over AFC Leopards.

After a 1-1 draw,in normal time, the two teams went into post match penalties with K’Ogalo emerging winners in the penalty shoot out. 

In a letter signed by Ministry of Sports Principal Secretary Mike Kimoko, the Government of Kenya slammed Gor Mahia’s secretary general Sam Ochola for misleading the public in regards to the prize money. According to Ochola, the record Kenyan champions had ‘not received’ the Ksh 1 million won on June 1. 

Ochola in a letter said, "The government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage offered a cash prize of Ksh. 1 million and Ksh. 500,000 to the winner and runners-up respectively to the two teams which participated in the Madaraka Day celebrations derby on 1st June 2022." 

Kimoko in a rejoinder said that the money had already been wired into the Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards accounts..

"The Government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage offered a cash prize of 1 Million and 0.5 Million to winner and runners-up respectively to the two teams which participated in the Madaraka Day Celebrations Derby on 1st June, 2022,"

"Gor Mahia FC won the match and AFC Leopards became runners-up, hence Gor Mahia received a cash prize of Kshs.1 Million and AFC Leopards got a cash prize of Kshs.0.5 Million," read the statement. 

"The money was wired directly to the respective club accounts on 3rd June, 2022 at 12.00 pm in line with Government procedures against heated demand from some club officials that the payment should be in cash,"

"Both the Chairman of the two clubs were at all times briefed on the procedures of the cash prize payments and you as the Chairman of Gor Mahia FC indeed confirmed the reflection of the cash prize amount in your club accounts on 6th June, 2022," it continued.

"It is therefore not only alarmist, obnoxious and irresponsible but also besmirching for the official of your club in the position of Secretary General to misinform the general public and football lovers on the position of the payment of cash prize,"

"This is therefore to demand a written apology from the club via the same media of communication the club official used to misinform," Kimoko said in the letter.

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