Mashemeji Derby: Archrivals Leopards, Gor boycott league match for friendly at Toyoyo

A war has been sparked with Football Kenya Federation and its member clubs after Kenya football rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia made good their threat to boycott their scheduled FKF Premier League match and instead played an easy friendly match at the Camp Toyoyo grounds on Saturday.

On Thursday, club chairmen Dan Shikanda (Leopards) and Ambrose Rachier (Gor) had given FKF boss Nick Mwendwa 24 hours to pay them the monthly disbursements from sponsors as well as the Cup competition finalists and winners prize money before they could play the match which was scheduled to be played at Thika Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Mwendwa, in his signature style, threatened the clubs of dire consequences and it is now a matter of wait and see if he, too, will make good his threat of a serious punishment against the two.

Mwendwa had until 4.00pm on Friday to pay up the monies to clubs but he did not do so, instead was unveiling the 11-kilogramme, 24-carat trophy recently bought for the league winners at a reported cost of $50,000.

Kenyans on Twitter trolled Mwendwa when he first unveiled the trophy during a television interview on Wednesday, many questioning the wisdom in having a trophy that costs more than the amount League champions receive.

Apparently, the unveiled trophy is several times more expensive than the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions’ League and European trophies combined.