NAIROBI, Kenya, March 23- Gor Mahia have reacted strongly to the decision made on Friday by Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) to ban them from Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium for the rest of the season.
Speaking to Capital Sport, Gor secretary, George Bwana, said the decision to lock K’Ogalo out of Nyayo was not the prudent way to solve the incidents of crowd trouble associated with the side.
“We have got information that SSMB have decided to ban us to Nyayo. Let me make it straight, banning Gor is not the right way to address hooliganism in football.
“These incidents cannot be isolated and blamed on Gor Mahia alone. This is a big problem that needs all stakeholders to sit together and find a way forward in a round table,” Bwana charged.
SSMB took the decision after skirmishes last Sunday at the stadium blamed on Gor Mahia fans who felt aggrieved by poor officiating in their Kenyan Premier League derby against archrivals AFC Leopards.
During the match that ended in a barren stalemate, referee Davies Omweno sent off Gor’s Victor Ali sparking off unrest in the stands that spilt onto the streets after the match as a number of vehicles were vandalised.
“Rushing to ban Gor from the stadium is not the solution. The club is important to Kenyan football and since the last time there was trouble at the ground, SSMB did not come out with measures to tackle the problem.
“We condemn this decision in the strongest terms possible since we believe there are many things we are not dealing with here such as what happened to the report that was to be published when seven fans died,” the Gor secretary added.
Gor who are undergoing a mini revival after losing three league fixtures with two successive draws against Leopards and Rangers on Wednesday travel to Nakuru to face Sony Sugar on Sunday.
The match will see them come head to head against their former coach, Zedekiah Otieno who was dismissed at the end of last season.
Table topping Leopards travel to their second home in Mumias for a Western Kenya derby against Western Stima on Saturday as champions Tusker take on KCB at Nyayo.
Elsewhere, Muhoroni Youth welcome Karuturi Sport in Muhoroni with bottom side Mathare United at home to City Stars at Nyayo.
On Sunday, Oserian will welcome Chemelil Sugar with second placed Sofapaka taking on 2010 champions Ulinzi Stars at Nyayo on Monday.
