Debate on State House visit splits Gor Mahia fans as club clears the air

Gor Mahia players lifting the SPL trophy in Kisumu, November 18. [Collins Oduor]

Gor Mahia fans have been locked in an argumentative social media debate on whether the League Champions should honour an invitation to the State House to meet the President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta. Fans have exhibited mixed reactions on the Facebook Page named “Gor Mahia FC” where one section supports the visit as the other faction bitterly disagrees with it.

The fans who have vehemently opposed the move have cited various reasons. Some of them feel that visiting the State House would undermine the club’s relationship with National Super Alliance Leader Raila Odinga, who is also the club patron. Others have also mentioned the police brutality and killings of protesters as their main reason for objection, as they add that most of their friends have lost their lives in such circumstances.

One of the fans who are averse to the move went ahead to point out that turning down such an invitation would never be strange, since it has happened in the United States already. They even threatened to ‘boycott and resist’ the team.

But for others, such a visit would enable the team to get more resources to represent the country in the forthcoming regional tournament. They said that CAF Championship requires a lot of resources, hence the club must seek State support.

However, the club Secretary General Ronald Ngala has moved ahead to clear the air by saying that they have not received any invitation to the State House. While talking to Game Yetu on phone, Mr Ngala could not confirm or deny that the club would accept the invitation should they receive it.