Gor Mahia Makes Appeal Against Revocation Of Its License
Gor Mahia further requested FKF to reverse its decision as well as restore the club to participating in the 2023/24 CAF Champions League.
20-time Football Kenya Federation (FKF) League champions Gor Mahia on Friday, July 21 wrote to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Club Licensing Board appealing against the revocation of their licensing certificate as ordered by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
According to a letter by the club seen by Viral Tea, K'Ogalo wants FKF under President Nick Mwendwa to reconsider its earlier decision to revoke its certificate, which resulted in the club being kicked out of the CAF Champions League for failing to meet the CAF Club Licensing Rules as announced on Thursday, July 20.
CAF had initially claimed that Gor Mahia had failed to meet several requirements, including having a valid licence and providing financial guarantees for three players, the latter of which the club revealed were paid.
Gor Mahia players during a past match. /TWITTER.OLE TEYA
"We write to appeal on the revocation of our Club license certificate; we received the letter this afternoon via FKF through FKF SG/CEO Mr Barry Otieno on the overdue payables to our former players 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," read the letter in part to FKF.
Gor Mahia further requested FKF to reverse its decision as well as restore the club to participating in the 2023/24 CAF Champions League.
"We request your able office to reconsider the earlier decision on revoking our certificate and reinstate our Club on the CAF Inter-Club Competition. Your quick decision and action will be highly appreciated," the letter added.
Despite Gor Mahia settling its debts on Friday, which was past the deadline, the decision now lies in CAF to decide whether it will re-admit the Kenyan champions to the CAF Champions League.
FKF had taken action on the advice of CAF due to a breach of payment agreements and overdue payables. President Nick Mwendwa had confirmed receiving a letter from CAF ordering the club to clear the pending dues of the players before the draw on Friday, but K'Ogalo had not settled the dues by 5 pm.
He expressed that he was unsure of what CAF would do should Gor Mahia be barred.
"It is true we received a letter from CAF giving Gor Mahia a deadline of Thursday, July 20, to clear the aforementioned players before they are included in the draw to be held today, but as of 5 pm [Thursday], Gor Mahia had not settled the same," Mwendwa said.
"We are now waiting for a response from CAF to know the way forward, we don’t know if they will ask us to replace Gor Mahia or if Kenya will end up having no representative in the Champions League competition."
FKF had in June announced in a statement that it had cleared Gor and two other clubs to participate in CAF competitions for the 2023-2024 season. It followed a CAF circular issued earlier that month regarding the club licensing process and requisite criteria.
The federation had invited applications from five clubs: The top four FKF Premier League clubs as well as the finalists of the FKF Cup Competition. Gor earned their Champions League ticket by virtue of winning the Kenyan league before the July 20 move.
The club may also be subjected to a fine of Ksh1.4 million ($10,000) or more as may be decided by the CAF Champions League dispute resolution committee.
Gor Mahia is a football club that is based in Nairobi Kenya. Formed in 1968, it is the most successful football club in East Africa and is also the club with the most supporters in Kenya.
The club also won the CAF Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, making them the first and only Kenyan club to win an African continental title.
If indeed Gor Mahia is expelled, it will be a massive blow for the players that fought hard to win the FKF Premier League title after a tight race against Tusker FC.
Kenya will also be dealt a blow given that they had no representative last season as the country was suspended by FIFA.