Record Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Gor Mahia collected a total of 4.5 million shillings from the sale of Mashemeji Derby tickets.Gor beat their traditional rivals AFC Leopards 1-0 last Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium in a match that witnessed a decent turnout by fans from either side.Austin Odhiambo’s first-half goal sealed the three points as well as bragging rights for Gor who played, for more than fifty minutes, with a man down following the expulsion of goalkeeper Kevin Omondi.##NAJAVA_MECA_8056216##Omondi, who was off his territory, was red-carded for a last-man challenge on Victor Omune who was through on goal.Besides the three points and the bragging rights, K’Ogalo left Nyayo with millions of shillings from the sale of the tickets.Initially, the club had been faulted for opting to sell the tickets on match day rather than availing them days to the derby through various channels and selling points.Sigh of relief as Gor Mahia defender Geoffrey Ochieng is discharged from hospitalFans had to make long ques for the tickets moments before kick-off but despite the hitch, the turnout was arguably was one of the best post the coronavirus pandemic.VIP tickets went for a thousand shillings with the regular ones retailing at three hundred shillings.“We had a gross collection of 4.5 million shillings,” revealed the club’s vice chairman Francis Wasuna.With this, it means Gor pocketed less than what was collected as a certain percentage goes to Sports Kenya, the ticketing company, and other service providers.Initially, the match was to be held at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos but concerns were raised over the suitability of the facility to host the game.Gor were later allowed to host the game at Nyayo following successful negotiations that involved various stakeholders among them was a delegation from FKF.The defending champions are still serving a ban from hosting their matches in any Sports Kenya-owned facility due to the destruction of sporting infrastructure, at Kasarani Stadium, during a league match against Murang’a Seal in November last year.
