The highly anticipated Mashemeji Derby originally scheduled for Sunday 24 November was on Thursday postponed to a later date due to the unavailability of a venue.The match pitting AFC Leopards against their arch-rivals Gor Mahia was to be staged at Nyayo National Stadium but Sports Kenya announced that the venue is not available due to the ongoing renovations in preparations for the African Nations Championship (CHAN).With Kasarani Stadium also undergoing renovations and no other facility in the country able to host, the biggest club fixture in Kenyan football, FKF’s Leagues and Competition department had no choice but to postpone the match.Wanyama dreams of being Ronaldo’s teammate after ending Ksh233M CF Montreal contractKenyans took to social media to give their reactions to the postponement.“Yes. That is the only way out. Motsepe will be here in a month’s time to inspect the progress of renovating these stadiums. We cannot risk offering Nyayo for the Mashemeji Derby that we are never sure how it will end. Asante Sports Kenya,” said Jijo Gichung’wa on Facebook.##NAJAVA_MECA_8511242##Ndambuki Patrick Kilonzo while reacting to the news on Mozzart Sport senior writer Kevin Teya’s Facebook page, had a peculiar thought.“We should just do away with football in Kenya, we are just forcing issues,” he said.Peter Lofty Ouma on the other hand lamented the poor sports infrastructure in the country.OFFICIAL: Blow to AFC Leopards, Gor Mahia fans after Mashemeji Derby postponement“Kenya has had useless governments since independence when it comes to matters of sports infrastructure Mombasa, Kisumu Nakuru and Eldoret need to have standard stadiums,” he stated.Steve Crown on his part expressed his disappointment with AFC Leopards whom he feels have made the current predicament possible.“For 60 years AFC Leopards have never been able to build even a training ground, what they are good at is begging the government and politicians for everything,” he noted.##NAJAVA_MECA_8511236##His thoughts were similar to those of Vincent Kodoni who also took issue with Ingwe’s leadership.“I may not blame the government or FKF I will blame AFC Leopards SC management and leadership for how a club like AFC Leopards established in 1964 without a stadium and it has been having all the sponsorship and fans back up.With that kind of leadership we are going nowhere, just failing the club name and the supportive fans we have,” he said.CAF sends official to Nairobi ahead of CHAN, AFCON tournamentsOn AFC Leopards’ official Facebook account, more reactions trickled in with Maxwell Otindo not surprised by the news as he saw it coming.“It was so obvious, I am just wondering how AFC leopards expected to play yet we all know what is happening at Nyayo/Kasarani,” he posted.Elly Kiplagat looked to have welcomed the postponement.##NAJAVA_MECA_8511254##“That is better than having it played elsewhere. It can always be played when Nyayo is ready. We need a quality derby. If postponement will guarantee that, so be it,” said Kiplagat.Muruli Eli on the other hand insisted that the game ought to have gone on even if it meant that it be played behind closed doors.“The match should go on at the Langata barracks pitch as an invite-only event. What is important is for the game to happen and not the crowd which should attend,” he said.Kenya U20 team set to play English Premier League side in two friendliesOn X (formerly Twitter), sports data analyst Murimi Njiru did not understand why the news caught people by surprise.“Why are people acting surprised that the Mashemeji Derby has been postponed? Apart from Kasarani and Nyayo, which other Stadium befits the magnitude of this match? And with the two stadia unavailable, it only made sense the game was postponed,” he posted##NAJAVA_MECA_8511255##Marco Polo on his part, did not have kind words for the status of football in the country.“The status of football in Kenya is pathetic.”Still on X, Andrew Mwangi foresaw a danger ahead.Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee’s bold way forward for Harambee Stars after failed AFCON qualification“With the long breaks, upcoming CHAN and now Postponements, the fixtures will pile up and reduce the quality of the league.”We conclude the sample by highlighting the reaction of veteran sports journalist Hassan Mmwana wa Ali who was wary of even worse days ahead.“I see the Mashemeji Derby being played outside the country! Mine is to watch,” he observed.
