Clifton Miheso has been voted Gor Mahia fans’ Most Outstanding Player for the month of July.
The speedy winger bagged the award following the club’s bittersweet performance of July 2021.
Bitter because the club for the first time in over a decade failed to win a single league match but sweet because K’Ogalo booked their continental slot by winning the FKF Cup to represent the country in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
The winger, currently rumoured to be on his way out of the 19 times KPL champions, featured in all the five matches for K’Ogalo in the month of July where they lost to Ulinzi Stars, Kariobangi Sharks, Tusker FC and drew one all against Nairobi City Stars in the league.
Probably what set him above his fellow nominees was the conversion of his spot kick during penalty shootouts against arch-rivals AFC Leopards in the finals of the FKF Cup on July 4th, 2021 at Nyayo National Stadium.
Other nominees were midfielder Ernest Wendo and Captain Harun Shakava.
Speaking during the presentation of the award, Betsafe MD Victor Sudi reiterated the company’s resolve to support initiatives by the fans such as this to encourage the players to put in extra effort in their trade.
“We shall continue with this award and for the remaining games, I urge you to put in your best effort because we will be here again next month to present the winner as voted by the fans.” Concluded Sudi.
“I am so excited to be the first winner of this award and I thank all my teammates because this is a team sport. To the fans, I can’t be more grateful,” said Miheso who, other than the trophy, went home with a Ksh.25,000 cash prize.
Captain Harun Shakava on his part thanked the club sponsor Betsafe for the support saying the award is an extra motivation as the club prepares for continental assignments next season.
About 27 companies that had invested heavily in various sports in Kenya had their licenses cancelled following negative findings of the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) that they were not tax-compliant.
The gaming industry has been operating in an extremely challenging business environment following government’s decision to subject them to punitive measures such as delayed license renewal and the suspension of Pay Bill numbers.
This decision by the Kenyan government has considerably reduced the level of business operations prompted some companies to scale back on investments made in different sports.
SportPesa for instance was forced to cancel all sports sponsorships in Kenya, the gaming giant was sponsoring the Kenya Premier League (KPL) to the tune of Ksh 450 million.
KPL and SportPesa had inked a four and a half year deal to gain naming rights. The gaming company was also sponsoring Kenya’s top two favorite football teams Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in a deal worth Ksh 120 million each year.
CAF Champions League
The withdrawal of the sponsorship by SportPesa is a huge blow these clubs which have no other sponsors. Gor Mahia for instance is participating in CAF Champions League which requires them to travel abroad regularly to play other teams across Africa.
Without SportPesa’s sponsorship, the Kenyan premier league giant might be forced to go back to the era of begging politicians and fans to raise money to honor continental matches.
The irony is that the betting industry does not only help sports in Kenya. According to the East African Herald, gaming industry contributed a whopping Ksh 10 billion to public revenues.
Investors’ nightmare
Kenya government is throwing away Ksh 10 billion by delaying license renewal for betting companies and the suspending their Pay Bill numbers. Yet year after year KRA has failed to meet it’s revenue targets, and now the taxman has resorted to desperate measures like frustrating investors like Keroche breweries owners in a bid to meet revenue targets.
If betting companies shun their activities in Kenya, things will surely get worst. Young people who were employed by the companies either directly or indirectly will lose their source of income, and since the government has no mechanism to give them jobs elsewhere the taxman will only get more desperate to meet revenue collection targets.
Already several manufacturing firms are moving their bases to Ethiopia where low cost of electricity is among incentives offered by the government to attract foreign investors.
Bad government policies continue to see Kenya lose business to Ethiopia, recently a report by Quartz Africa indicated that Ethiopia had risen to second position as a gateway into Africa, just behind South Africa. Ethiopia now commands a lead over Kenya when it comes to the share of passenger traffic and aircraft movement.
Ronald Karauri bet his Range Rover Overfinch on Gor Mahia Vs Hull City game. The SportPesa CEO was confident Gor would win the Sunday match.
Popular Kalenjin comedian Kimutai Ruto of the famed Propesa comedy crew and Karauri bet their cars on the Gor Mahia Vs Hull City game. Karauri was to win a Toyota Probox if Gor won the game, the Propesa guy was to win the Range Rover if Hull won.
K’Ogallo lost to Hull City on penalty kicks, the Kenyan champions drew 0-0 in normal time having dominated the game in first and second half.
Well, you would expect Karauri to give away his Range Rover since Gor Mahia lost. But in betting the game usually ends in regular time – 90 minutes, anything beyond 90 minutes does not count.
So as far as betting is concerned, Gor and Hull City game ended in a barren draw. This means Ronald Karauri gets to keep his Range Rover.
Four Gor Mahia fans lost their lives in a grisly road accident along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. The fans were traveling to Machakos to watch a match between K’Ogallo and Thika United at the Kenyatta stadium.
The Sunday April 22nd accident happened when a minibus driver lost control and crashed onto another vehicle. The four were thrown off the minibus they were perched on top.
Gor and AFC Leopards fans have a habit of riding on top of buses when they travel to watch matches. Perhaps the story would have been different if the fans weren’t seated on top of the minibus.
Sendoff
The bodies of the four Gor Mahia fans who died in the grisly accident will be released from Chiromo mortuary today Thursday May 10th.
Meanwhile K’Ogallo fans pimped four caskets that will carry the remains of the fallen aficionados. The coffins were painted in green and white colors – Gor’s official colors.
The club’s labels and slogans were also written all over the coffins. A note with a portrait of Raila Odinga is also visible on the coffins. See the photos below:
Alfred Mutua banned Gor Mahia from playing in Machakos in 2014. The governor has lifted the ban but K’Ogalo fans are not impressed at all.
Mutua decided to ban Gor from Kenyatta Stadium after fans went on rampage and damaged property. This after K’Ogalo lost to Sofapaka in a KPL match.
Mutua lifted the ban on Gor on Monday January 15th. The governor had a lengthy conversation with Gor’s official including chairman Ambrose Rachier before he lifted the ban.
Alfred Mutua during a meeting with officials from Gor Mahia
1 million ‘fine’
Gor Mahia official offered Mutua Kes 1 million as a token of goodwill. The club also agreed to compensate the county for the destruction that occurred in 2014.
Mutua and Gor official also reached an agreement for K’Ogalo to use Kenyatta stadium for KPL matches. The defending Kenya premier league champions will also use the stadium as their home stadium.
K’Ogalo fans angry
Gor Mahia fans expressed anger with Alfred Mutua for lifting the ban. Fans don’t understand why the club paid one million shillings to the governor at a time when their sponsor SportPesa ditched them.
Fans are also upset because Machakos is far away from Nairobi and Kisumu where the bulk of K’Ogalo’s fans are located.
Jarunda Jaluth Mambobiad: We have not changed. You are a fool.
Oscar Modoch Ochola: Banning Gor Mahia means loosing business opportunities,puga! That 1M will be used to catter for more damages to come.
Kimutai Motelin Mike: I hope Gor Mahia rejects the offer, after all we have a better stadium in Kakamega which was unveiled with no show off and gloat. Seriously I detest this Machakos thing. Your self righteousness stinks to high heaven.
Bernard Obonyo: Your options were limited, in fact this was overdue. KPL without Kogalo Fc is like kindergarten matches being played in a local school playground.
So for you to make revenues from the stadium, you can assume the team.
Fred Oyengo: We don’t care we’ve won titles without using machakos studium, okochuno
Jasuba Wuoloo: Alfred Mutua we have not changed and you need us more than we need you. We will not abandon our lifestyle because of you. Continue with your ban.
Joshua Mulei: But for 3 years gormahia has been playing, ama SAA hii ndo wataresume kucheza. Its a matter of time then we have our governor
Osoti Erick: Machakos Stadium needs gor mor than0 gor needs them, ukweli usemwe!
Paul Okombo: You should get ashamed of such a team contributing 1 million to your county, you should have supported them instead
Gor Mahia won their 16th premier league title on Saturday October 21st after beating Ulinzi Stars in a thrilling match played at Kericho Green Stadium.
Meddie Kagere scored a beautiful goal in the 12th minute to give K’ogalo maximum pointed needed to win 2017 SportPesa Premier League.
There are several things to marvel about Gor Mahia’s win of SportPesa Premier League. Below are the 5 important things to note looking back at K’ogalo campaign this season:
Team spirit
Gor Mahia striker Meddie Kagere dribbles past Ulinzi Stars defender during their SportPesa Premier League match at Kericho Green Stadium on October 22, 2017. Photo/Nation
Gor Mahia were in to win starting from the beginning of the season. The club lost premier league title to Tusker in 2016 and were desperate to get it back.
K’ogalo had previously won the premier league title for three consecutive years – 2013, 2014, and 2015. The team believed in themselves and they did it in 2017.
The fans
Gor Mahia fans braved chilly weather to cheer their team during their SportPesa Premier League match at Kericho Green Stadium on October 22, 2017. Photo/Nation
Gor Mahia’s legion of fans stood by their team even when they lost 2016 SportPesa Premier League title to Tusker.
The team’s fans remained loyal to the club showing them support throughout the season. Fans traveled with Gor wherever they played filling stadia and cheering their favorite team.
K’ogalo’s loyal fans braved heavy rain in Kericho on Saturday when Gor beat Ulinzi to win the 2017 title. Heavy rains did not stop fans from filling Kericho Green Stadium. Gor’s fans wanajiamini.
Gor’s strikers
Gor Mahia striker Meddie Kagere celebrates after scoring against Ulinzi. Photo/Nation
Looking at the number of goals Gor’s strikers have scored this season it’s hard not to marvel at their swashbuckling performance.
K’ogallo’s strikers Jacques Tuyisenge and Meddie Kagere have scored 23 goals this season. Meddie scored the important goal that won Gor the 2017 SportPesa Premier League.
Gor’s impressive form
Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr celebrates after winning the SportPesa Premier League title after their 1-0 win over Ulinzi Stars at the Kericho Green Stadium on October 22, 2017. Photo/Nation
K’ogalo has played 30 games, won 20, drew 6 and lost 4. They won their 16th premiership trophy with four matches to spare. Their closest rival Tusker trail them with 14 points.
Sponsorship
A few years ago, Gor Mahia faced all sorts of problems including players losing morale due to delayed salaries and lack of funds to travel abroad for continental showpieces.
Every so often politicians and Gor’s fans had to chip in to finance the club’s activities. All these problems ended when SportPesa took over the club’s sponsorship.
SportPesa did not only solve Gor’s financial problems but also provided an avenue for the club to reach new heights. Remember Gor is the first Kenyan club to play English side Everton courtesy of SportPesa.
Wayne Rooney attempts to go past Gor Mahia defenders during Everton Vs Gor match played in Dar es Salaam on 13 July 2017. Photo/Courtesy
Gor beat arch-rivals AFC Leopards 3-0 to clinch the SportPesa Super Cup title and won a ticket to play Everton. They also pocketed Kes 3 million prize money when they won the Super Cup.
K’ogalo gave Everton a run for their money when they faced off in Dar es Salaam on 13 July 2017. They lost 2-1 but they gained experience playing against the English club.
By winning SportPesa Premier League 2017, Gor Mahia automatically qualifies for the 2018 CAF Champions League. K’ogallo can actually win CAF Champions League trophy, remember they won it way back in 1987. With support from us Kenyans, Gor can win CAF Champions League trophy again. Tujiamini!
