Which way for Gor Mahia after CAF sanction?

Gor Mahia players react during a past league match.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia are at crossroads soup after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) took action on the Kenyan champions.

While many local fans were happy with K’Ogalo’s return to the top and looking forward to playing in the CAF Champions League, nobody foresaw what was coming as they were bundled out without even kicking a ball.

CAF have now kicked out Gor from the 2023-2024 CAF Champions League.

What started as rumours on social media on Thursday evening became a reality yesterday when the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) served the 20-time Kenyan champions with a notice of revocation of the Gor Mahia FC Club Licensing Certificate.

“We regret to inform you that the FKF Club Licensing First Instance Body (FIB) on the advise of CAF has revoked Gor Mahia’S Club Licensing Certificate for being in breach of Article 60 of the CAF Men’s Club Licensing Regulation.

“The painful decision has been arrived by the FIB after former Gor Mahia players reached out to CAF due to breach of payment agreements and overdue payables,” said a letter signed by FKF CEO Barry Otieno.

However, the club through their chairman Ambrose Rachier yesterday petitioned FKF to be reinstated to the CAF Champions League.

“We write to appeal on the revocation of our club license certificate; we received the letter this afternoon via FKF through Barry Otieno. On the overdue payables to our former players namely; Sando Yangayay, Adama Keita and Jules Ulimwengu

“To confirm to your able office all the overdue payables to the above former players has been remitted and all the remittance slips shared herein.

“We request your able office to reconsider the earlier decision on revoking our certificate and reinstate our club on the CAF Inter-Club Competition,” the statement signed by Rachier read.

The players in question are Congolese striker Yangayay Sando Sando, Burundian attacker Jules Ulimwengu, and Malian goalkeeper Adama Keita.

The trio are owed millions in salary arrears and fines from the termination of contracts.

It is now up to CAF to decide whether they will re-admit Gor to the competition. This is because the said payment were made past the deadline.