Kenya’s Sports CS Ababu Namwamba has called on Gor Mahia officials to stop shifting the blame and take full responsibility for the decision taken by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to kick them out of the Caf Champions League this season.
K’Ogalo were lined up to represent Kenya in the lucrative inter-club competition following their success in clinching the 2022-23 FKF Premier League title but they were expelled ahead of the draw for violating club licensing rules.
“I am very disappointed with what happened at Gor Mahia, and the management of the club must take full responsibility and stop shifting goalposts,” said a visibly agitated Namwamba, adding: “Shame on you Gor Mahia, shame on you, I had planned a lot of good things for the team when they earned the ticket to play in Caf matches but they have really disappointed me, shame on you and this should never happen again.”
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“Why did Gor Mahia not approach me when they knew they had issues with Caf over player salaries? The door to my office is always wide open and none of their officials bothered to come to see me over the matter (or even reach out to me on the telephone), shame on you, you have shamed the country. Now look, your mistakes have denied your players a chance to showcase their skills in the continent despite the efforts they put in to win the league title.”
Namwamba further singled out Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, whom he referred to as a close friend, for letting him down in the whole saga. He said: “Brother Ambrose [Rachier] I am very disappointed with you on this one, you are my good friend, and apart from being friends we have studied law together, but you let me down on this one, you should have reached out to me, why did Gor Mahia wait until when things were getting out of hand to start running up and down? I know FIFA and CAF officials and we talk regularly, this should have been averted had they approached me, I should have intervened in good time to save the situation.”
K’Ogalo’s exit from the competition means Kenya will only have one representative in Kakamega Homeboyz, who will feature in the Confederation Cup by virtue of winning the FKF Cup. Homeboyz will face Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya in the first round, with the first leg scheduled to take place between August 18 and 20.