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Panick and uncertainty has engulfed Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, after SportPesa suspended their sponsorship of the two clubs.
The recent announcement could spell doom for K’Ogalo and Ingwe, who less than six months ago, were struggling to stay afloat with empty coffers and seemingly no interested suitor.
Then SportPesa came to the rescue after edging Betway from the contest to brand the clubs’ shirts. But that honeymoon could end following the sponsors’ suspension of the deals they entered with both clubs, citing increased cases of hooliganism by Ingwe and K’Ogalo fans.
The 2015 season was particularly bad for the Leopards who for most of the year could not pay their players, even forcing coach Zradvko Logarusic to take a walk.
Gor were not any better, as they fought tooth and nail to weather financial storms. It will be remembered that some of K’Ogalo’s key players had to leave the club allegedly over delayed or unpaid salaries and allowances.
And now, should the betting company decide to pull out, the teams would be forced to scout for new sponsors.
But the decision to suspend the sponsorship has raised questions, with many wondering if indeed it was prudent, in the first place for SportPesa to sponsors the two rival clubs.
SportPesa Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Karauri who announced the suspensions, said they were aware of the danger of supporting both clubs but insists they were assured that the vice had been dealt with.
“It was always going to be challenging to sponsor both clubs and we understood the danger, but they assured us that the problem had been dealt with,” he said.
AFC Leopards have since taken action against a steward who stormed the pitch during their abandoned league match against Ulinzi Stars on March 23.
AFC Leopards also said the steward and fans who stormed the pitch during a match against City Stars will not be allowed to attend matches involving the side until the end of the season.
The club said: “We condemn spectator violence witnessed in Mumias during our match against Ulinzi Stars and have commenced investigations into the matter. We shall be issuing a comprehensive statement at a later date.
“In the meantime, the steward who was captured on camera running into the field of play has been suspended from the club and subsequently banned from attending club matches until the end of the season.
“Another fan also captured on camera entering the field of play during the match against City Stars has been banned from attending club matches until the end of the season. Both cases are now being handled by the police.”
Gor Mahia however insists that they are yet to receive official communication from SportPesa.
“As a club, we have not received any communication from the sponsors regarding the suspension, neither have they engaged us before about the possibility of such action,” the club’s Acting Secretary General Ronald Ngala said.
“The latest incident was only brought to light after what happened in Mumias and now people are trying to compare us with AFC Leopards, yet our case is not that bad,” insisted Ngala.
