Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have defended the decision to settle on Machakos County as the location for their proposed stadium by elucidating three reasons.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news On Thursday, 24 April, K’Ogalo’s National Executive Council joined the club’s deputy patron and Kenya’s Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo for a site visit to the proposed 48-acre piece of land in Lukenya, Machakos County.Owalo later announced the plan to have Gor Mahia acquire the land and build on it, among others, a 60,000-seater stadium, three training grounds, a four-star hotel, gymnasium, swimming pool and club offices.Harambee Stars forward set to end five-month stay with Iranian clubThe announcement elicited mixed reactions from fans, with a majority of them expressing concerns with the location even as they welcomed the plans.Through their vice chairperson, Sally Bolo, Gor Mahia have detailed three reasons why the venue is suitable, with the first one being historical ties with Nairobi“Gor Mahia Football Club was founded in NAIROBI and has been based there since 1968. Its registered home grounds are in Nairobi, and although the club occasionally takes home games to Kisumu or, more recently, to Homa-Bay (subject to federation approval), Nairobi remains the heart of the club. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8889867##Moreover, the club’s origins as a community-based institution, registered under the Societies Act, should not be overlooked, although we are now under the Sports Act.This historical connection with Nairobi should be considered in the planning of the new stadium,” said Bolo through her Facebook page.The Human Resource specialist also said that the cost of hosting matches, especially international games in Luo Nyanza, where the club’s fans predominantly hail from, and the existing sporting infrastructure in the area, make it difficult to have the complex.Gor Mahia cautions against free entry after collecting meagre revenue from ticket sales“It is important to recognise that there are already several stadiums in the western region, including two in Kisumu, one in Siaya, and another in Homa-Bay, with plans for a new one in Migori County. The critical question here is: How often are these facilities used for high-profile international events? What has been the return on investment (ROI) from these stadiums so far?” posed Bolo.The vice chairperson, who previously served as the club’s treasurer, also cited the inability of the regional clubs to pay for the complex once complete in order to cater for the cost of maintenance.##NAJAVA_MECA_8889868##“Furthermore, the state of the local football clubs in these areas, especially those in the top-flight leagues, is another important factor. Are these clubs drawing crowds large enough to fill these stadiums and generate substantial revenue that could contribute to their upkeep and improvement to international standards?”Finally, Bolo cited the commercial viability of the proposed site in Lukenya next to Daystar University as a factor that makes it suitable.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: Metrics that make Kenya U20’s Aldrine Kibet an exceptional midfielder“The new stadium should be viewed primarily as a commercial venture. It will allow the club to save enormous amounts currently spent on hiring training grounds for the senior, youth, and women’s teams. Additionally, the club will no longer need to rent stadiums for home matches for both local and international. Instead, the facility will generate revenue by allowing other KPL or national teams to rent the grounds, while the amenities around the facility will further increase its profitability.”Under commercial viability, the club also attributed the cost of having international matches outside Nairobi, as required by FIFA and CAF, as a factor that makes Nyanza unsuitable.##NAJAVA_MECA_8889864##“The FIFA and CAF regulations require that matches played at venues more than 200 km outside the capital city must have the home team cover the cost of chartering a flight for the away team and match officials, in addition to the logistics for the home team. Gor Mahia will avoid these additional expenses, making international matches more feasible and financially sustainable,” she added.Lastly, the proximity to key infrastructure is also among the issues that drew the club to consider Machakos as the preferred venue, according to Bolo.Harambee Stars striker on target in Norway as Ligi Ndogo product inspires AIK to big win in Sweden“Its proximity to the airport and Mombasa Road makes it highly accessible, further boosting its potential as a hub for international sports and entertainment events.The distance from Nairobi CBD to Kasarani Stadium is similar to the proposed Gor Mahia stadium site along Mombasa Road. However, the new location’s proximity to the expressway will reduce travel time, making it more convenient for fans,” she said.Nevertheless, Bolo appreciated the concerns raised by fans who do not support the location but called on them to look at the broader perspective and importance of the project.##NAJAVA_MECA_8889866##“While concerns about the location of the new stadium are valid, it is crucial to view the project as a long-term investment that will benefit the club. Gor Mahia FC, while rooted in the Luo community, has long transcended ethnic boundaries to become a national symbol. The facility will not only improve the club’s operational efficiency but also create a sustainable revenue stream, ensuring that Gor Mahia FC remains competitive at both local and international levels,” she remarked.
