Gor Mahia has launched women’s and youth football teams aligning with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements for club licensing.Football Kenya Federation had in 2023 outlined the CAF requirements for clubs to participate in the top flight as well as CAF-sanctioned competitions that is the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup which included the availability of a ladies’ side and a developmental team with at least two age groups.##NAJAVA_MECA_7845521##In the historic event for the club held at Stima Sacco Club in Nairobi on Sunday, the twenty times FKF Premier League champions officially unveiled their women’s team dubbed Gor Mahia Queens and the reviving of Gor Mahia Youth, a side that was relegated to the regional league after failed stints in the third division and fourth tier.Speaking during the launch, Gor’s transfer system manager Ronald Ngala noted that the decision to form a women’s team was in the wake of their failed attempt to participate in the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League.The club’s certificate was withdrawn by the Football Kenya Federation First Instance Body (FIB) due to various violations including Article 60 of the CAF’s men’s club licensing rules.“The senior team won the league last year but unfortunately, we did not represent the country in CAF which is a prestigious stage where everyone will want to be seen. It was very unfortunate and that is why all these measures are put in place in good time in anticipation of the new campaign if we win the league, everyone in the office is working towards that,” he offered.“All of you will now be under the senior team, we are working the clock that we put everything to be in line with the CAF club licensing requirements,” he added.Welcoming the women’s team to the fold, the former Deputy Secretary General challenged the ladies to match the men’s team efforts and represent the country in the Women’s CAF Champions League in a time frame of four years.“To the women’s team, you are welcomed to the Gor Mahia family, you are free to win every title in front of you and earn subsequent promotions to the top tier, we are giving ourselves a time frame of four years to see you in the premier and CAF competitions,” added Ngala who joined K’Ogalo in 2005.Gor Mahia Queens FC…K’Ogalo Chuor Timbe.#Sirkal #Kogalo pic.twitter.com/e9XinlX05T— Gor Mahia FC Ke (@gormahiafcke) February 4, 2024 Previously, Gor Mahia had entered a transformative partnership with Acakoro Ladies, a collaboration that has now culminated in the rebranding of Acakoro Ladies to Gor Mahia Queens Football Club.As per a communique sent to federations last year from CAF, clubs looking to get approvals for club licensing have to meet certain criteria that include:”The license applicant must have a youth team with at least two age categories. Each of the two youth teams must take part in official competitions or programs played at the national, regional, or local level and be recognized by the FKF.”The license applicant must provide all players registered with the club full access to medical support services, including but not limited to a yearly medical examination for all its players eligible to play for its first squad and comprehensive medical insurance coverage for contracted players. This is a mandatory requirement,” FKF added.Ulinzi Stars confirm Issa Emuria captureApart from having a women’s team, the clubs were also required to have a stadium available to host games.”The license applicant must have at least one women’s first team participating in a competition sanctioned by FKF. The applicant may operate the women’s team itself or have a written agreement with another entity that operates the team. This is an obligatory requirement.Gor Mahia coach laments costly errors in defeat to Police FC
