Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba seized the moment Friday evening and shared his piece of mind as well as read the riot act to Kenya’s top clubs – Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards – after what has been a rocky end to their respective seasons.The CS spoke on Friday night during the inaugural Cabinet Secretary’s Champions Reception, which seeks to recognize and celebrate the heroes and heroines in the Sports and Creative Arts Space.’Shame on you Gor Mahia’Sports CS Ababu Namwamba tells off Gor Mahia following their expulsion from the CAF Champions League after they failed to pay their former players#FootballKE #GorMahia pic.twitter.com/uCUarT3YEH— Ochieng’ Stephen (@soo_ochieng) July 28, 2023 Ababu urged Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards to develop their own talents to avoid problems with “third rate” players and coaches, and also took a moment to read the riot act to Gor Mahia officials following the team’s ouster from the CAF Champions League.K’Ogalo missed an opportunity to represent the country in the 2023-2024 CAF Champions League next season after their club licensing certificate, a mandatory document that a team must present in order to be admitted to the lucrative tournament, was revoked.The 20 time league champions were locked out for failing to honor contractual obligations with a number of foreign players who have since left the club.The players include: Burundian forward Jules Ulimwengu, Malian goalkeeper Adama Keita and Congolese forward Sando Sando Yangayay.Happening NowCS Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports @AbabuNamwamba, is currently at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, presiding over the Cabinet Secretary’s Champions Reception that seeks to recognize and celebrate the heroes and heroines in the Sports and Creative Arts Space. pic.twitter.com/LR3FpVQWuV— Ministry Of Youth Affairs, The Arts & Sports (@moyasa_ke) July 28, 2023 Namwamba called out the management of the record Kenyan champions for prosecuting their case in the media while ignoring the existence of his office that, he said, was ready to unlock stalemate between the club and the owed players.”I’m very disappointed,” a visibly upset Namwamba said. “I had big plans for you in the Champions League then you let me down, shame on you.“Instead of coming out and saying there is a problem, you waited up to the last minute. Why should your Minister of Sports learn about these things in the media?”The Ministry chief also tore into Gor chairman Ambrose Rachier, for failing to reach out at the hour of need, regretting that Gor was locked out, yet, CAF bosses including President Patrice Motsepe were on his speed dial.##NAJAVA_MECA_7396626##”I do communicate with Motsepe and Mosengo Omba on a regular basis. If Gor had come out on time we would have sorted things out. It is unfortunate that our young men will not participate in the CAF champions League,” he added.The former Budalangi Member of Parliament also urged the two clubs to develop their own talents to avoid problems with “third rate” players and coaches.”Why are we going to fish for third rate players from elsewhere when we can develop our own talent locally,” he probed.Chipu keen on Zimbabwe revenge as team is namedOn AFC’s situation, where they have to pay over Ksh. 20 million to their former head coach Patrick Aussems, Ababu said: “Why are you going for third rate coaches from elsewhere when we have competent coaches here and then get into trouble?”At the end, while promising to help the two clubs get out of the crisis, he berated the management of the two most popular clubs for “bad manners.”The upcoming FKF Premier League season begins later next month.
