Gor trip to Algeria in limbo as fundraiser flops

Anxiety has gripped Gor Mahia camp after a funds drive aimed at raining cash for their CAF Champions League trip to Algeria fell short of the Sh5 million target.

Gor chairman Ambrose Rachier said less than Sh1 million was raised in cash plus pledges, leaving them with a budget hole of more than Sh4 million to fill.

Most guests steered clear of the fundraiser held in Nairobi last evening, four days before they are scheduled to play USM Alger in a CAF Champions League second round clash.

“Most of our dependable guests failed to turn up hence leaving us in a state of confusion. Those who attended were majorly fans and us as club leaders.

“We had planned to leave tomorrow, Thursday midnight, but from the look of things, it will only be possible if we can bridge the deficit,” Rachier said.

The long-serving chair added that players are on his neck over unpaid August salaries with some of them already experiencing problems paying off their rents.

The chairman is therefore appealing to well wishers to help the team travel to Algeria since their failure to travel will attract a hefty  penalty from the continental football body  (CAF), which may include monetary fines and suspension from continental matches.

Gor reached the second round of CAF Club Championship after humiliating Burundi’s Aigle Noir 5-1 on aggregate. The teams settled for a barren draw in Burundi with Gor thumping the Burundian giants 5-1 on August 25 at Kasarani.

Earlier reports had also indicated that their opponents USMA were also in financial crisis, but the big looser here could be Gor should they fail to travel since they are the guests in the first leg.

Food For Thought

How can Kenya teams be independent without having to depend on well wishers all the time both in local league or on continental assignments?

At the moment, Gor has no sponsor and reports indicate that their former betting firm sponsors chipped in in the month of July and paid players’ salaries.

It is not clear whether they will repeat the same gesture this time round now that they have been okayed by Kenya Revenue Authority to apply for a betting licence afresh from Betting Control and Licencing Board.