Gor get windfall: KPL Champions receive major boost from President Kenyatta, to fight hooligansm from football

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Gor Mahia football club players when they presented the 2014 Tusker Premier League Championship trophy at State House, Nairobi. PSCU

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia visited State House yesterday morning and left Sh3million richer and promise of a new shirt sponsor.

President Uhuru Kenyatta gave the players Sh1 million and promised the officials to collect another Sh2 million to help the club in its preparations for the CAF Champions League.

In response to a request for sponsorship from Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, the president agreed to look into the issue soon. Gor Mahia's previous shirt sponsors Tuzo, is associated with President Kenyatta's family.

Rachier, who spoke on behalf of Gor Mahia officials, told the president the club is working hard to reduce incidences of hooliganism but asked the Government to assist in stemming the vice.

"The Government agencies like the police and judiciary ought to supplement our efforts of ending the menace. We understand hooliganism will discourage sponsors from supporting the team and we are determined to end it," said Rachier.

Kenyatta promised that the Government will do everything in its power to end the menace.

"Hooliganism has to end before sponsors can come on board to support football in a big way. We ought to come up with a mechanism of dealing with it and include Football Kenya Federation (FKF)," he said.

FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya, his deputy Robert Asembo, together with eight Gor Mahia officials and Sports minister Hassan Wario, also attended the event. Wario asked the President to consider how to assist the club.

The President promised to meet the FKF chairman and Wario at a later date to discuss football matters in the country.

Kenyatta once again asked to meet the players separately in the absence of officials where he listened to their grievances before coming out to take a photo with them.

It is the second time the President has insisted on meeting players alone with the first time being last year when Harambee Stars visited State House.

Elsewhere, Gor Mahia die hard fan Jaro Soldier was a happy man after the State House visit when the President promised to give him a job at the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB). He was among those who visited State House and when he got a chance to speak, he asked the President to help him get a job.