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Gor Mahia Apologizes To Govt After Accusations Of Failed Issuance Of Prize Money

Fridah Wangechi | 1 year ago
Gor Mahia players at the Madaraka Day Cup at Nyayo Stadium on June 1 2022. PHOTO: The Standard
Gor Mahia players at the Madaraka Day Cup at Nyayo Stadium on June 1 2022. PHOTO: The Standard

Kenyan football team Gor Mahia has issued an apology to the government after making accusations that it failed to receive prize money for its win during the Madaraka Day Cup.

The team defeated the AFC Leopards 6-5 in penalties and were set to receive a whooping Kshs 1million in prize money as promised by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed while their arch-rivals received Kshs 500,000.

Confusion however arose after the team last week published a derogatory statement signed by the team's Secretary-General Sam Ocholla implying that it had not received the money from the government , which caught the ministry unawares as it had ensured that the funds had been remitted into the team's account in line with its procedures.

Sports Principal Secretary Mike Kimoko on June 7 angered by the team's remarks penned a letter, demanding an apology and called out the club's management for portraying alarmist and irresponsible behaviour.

"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," Kimoko’s letter read in part.

"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 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," he wrote.

K'ogalo's chairman Ambrose Rachier on Thursday, June 16 was compelled to write an apology after confirming that the money was indeed in their accounts, remorseful over the confusion that had led to the unfortunate circumstances.

“We refer to the statement attributed to our Secretary-General and published on social media on 3 June 2022 in which he indicated that the prize money had not been released to us “under unclear circumstances” thus insinuating ill motive on the part of the Government officer entrusted with the handling of the funds,” read Gor Mahia's statement.

“We write to apologise to the officer(s) concerned for this statement and to confirm that as at the date of the publication of this statement the Chairman of the Club had already been informed of the fact that the money in question had been deposited into the Club account. We confirm that indeed the money was deposited into our Cub account on 3rd June 2022.”

We appreciate the good gesture of the Government of the Republic of Kenya through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage in organising the above derby and giving us an opportunity to participate in such a worthy cause. The prize money earned has indeed benefited the club generally and our players and technical staff in particular. We look forward to such other similar opportunities in the future.” the letter concluded.

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