Madaraka Day Cup: Giants Gor Mahia to tackle Nyeri Combined

Gor Mahia Kenneth Muguna(R)and Geoffrey Kataka(L) of Posta Rangers battle for ball possession during their KPL match at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 28/05/17.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

The Government has lined up a number of sports activities to commemorate Madaraka Day, whose official celebration will be held at Kabiruini stadium in Nyeri County on June 1.

One of the lucky teams to be picked by the State for the occasion is Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia, who will contest Madaraka Day Cup against Nyeri Combined, a team composed of best players from Central region.

Sports ministry said the two sides have been picked by the Government to vie for the Cup in order to promote national cohesion among the youth during this electioneering period.

“The sides are a representative of most volatile regions in Kenya politically, it is on this premise that the Government has brought in the two in order to promote peace and harmony as we head towards elections,” Carolyne Kariuki, Principal Sports Officer, State Department of Sports, said.

Kariuki urged communities in Nyeri to come out in large numbers to watch this historic match, which will also act as a talent search for other teams in the region.

Gor Mahia Chief Executive Officer, Lordvick Aduda said it was an honour to be picked by the State to contest the Cup since there are hundreds of other teams in the country that could have been extended the invite.

Aduda said Gor Mahia players will also use the contest to step up their fitness as they look forward to ply trade for their various national teams during the Fifa international week.

“As you know the Fifa calendar is just around the corner and Gor Mahia has ten players, who have earned call ups in their national teams. The players will use the Madaraka Day Cup as their last major outing before they link up with their respective national teams,” said Aduda.

Aduda also said that the contest will be their last major outing before Gor Mahia departs to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the SportPesa Super Cup, to be held between June 5-11, where they are poised to battle regional giants including Vodacom champions Yanga and Simba and local rivals AFC Leopards among others.

Apart from football, other sports activities lined up by the State on Madaraka Day at the venue include Amputee football and volleyball. [Erick Ochieng]