GOR’S BUMPY RIDE TO STARDOM: K'Ogalo pocket measly Sh7.5m for winning three trophies this year

GOR MAHIA WIN TOP CHAMPIONSHIP Gor mahia with the trophy after winning top 8 championship at moi stadium in Kisumu on November 7 2015. Gor beat sony sugar 2-1.PIC BY COLLINS ODUOR

Gor Mahia may have already won two trophies (Premier League and Top-8) this season, but their prize money is not commensurate with their efforts.

K'Ogalo, will receive Sh4.5 million for winning the SportPesa Premier League and another Sh1 million for winning the Top 8 tournament last Saturday.

The club will get another Sh2 million if they win the GOtv shield. This means that they will earn about Sh7.5m for winning three trophies in one season!

Compare this with the Sh80 million the winner of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa receives and the Sh40 million taken home by the Telkom Knock-Out champions (equivalent of Top 8) and you realise the glaring difference.

Given the PSL is well funded compared to the KPL, the difference in prize money is still huge considering winners of both leagues take part in the CAF champions league, where they are all expected to compete at the same level.

Gor Mahia Deputy Secretary General Ronald Ngala says he is disappointed that the prize money for the KPL Top 8 has remained constant since 2011 when it was launched.

“Playing the tournament is now becoming a burden to us because we have to spend money preparing the team. Granted, KPL subsidises some of our costs, but it still does not make economic sense,” he said.

”It is disappointing the money has remained constant for all those years. There ought to be an annual increase of about Sh1 million. That would have made sense.”

Ngala said by taking part in the tournament, his club actually helps KPL to make money, since the league company retains the gate collections.

“What will happen when we don’t take part or when we are eliminated in the first round?” asked Ngala.

But KPL’s Chairman of Finance Committee George Odhiambo defended the company, saying they can only pay what they have.

“It is unfair to compare ourselves with the PSL without looking at what they get in terms of sponsorship and what we have. The fact is we can’t pay what we don’t have, but we need to start from somewhere,” he said.

Odhiambo said this year’s league prize money has gone up by Sh500,000 after SportPesa took over as title sponsors.

“Apart from the prize money, clubs also receive Sh7.5 million per year in grants. This is the best we can do at the moment,” added Odhiambo.