Gor Mahia and Kenya Police will be smiling all the way to the bank after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that clubs participating in the preliminary stage of inter-club tournaments will receive USD50,000 ( approximately Ksh6, 451,000 on current exchange rates). The first leg of the preliminaries gets underway today with both Gor and Police set to be in action on Sunday against El Merreikh Bentiu and Ethiopia Coffee respectively. Gor will confront Merreikh in a CAF Champions League match in Juba while Police be will be action against Coffee in a Confederation Cup match set for the Nyayo National Stadium.##NAJAVA_MECA_5708##The return matches will be held a week later with the winners on aggregate facing Egyptian giants Al Ahly( Champions League) and Zamalek in the next round. Previously, teams were not getting financial grants, during the infant stages of the two tournaments, from the continental body.Clubs would only reap financial returns upon reaching the group stages of the two showpieces, an arrangement which occasionally drew criticism as teams argued it was expensive to honor continental fixtures. “I line with the CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe’s promise to improve club competitions and provide more financial assistance, clubs participating in in the preliminary stages of the Champions League and the Confederation Cup will receive USD 50 000 each,”confirmed the body through it’s online portal.Gor Mahia head coach explains reason for Austin Odhiambo’s previous absenceThe development will definitely help relieve clubs the financial burden and reduce the begging culture which comes into full play when flying out for CAF assignments.In the last two years, the CAF Executive has significantly increased investment in club football on the continent. Winners of the Champions League now take USD4,000,000(Ksh516,080,000)– compared to the USD2,5 000 000(Ksh322,550, 000)they received in 2022.It wasn’t me!Winners of the Confederation Cup now take more USD2,000,000(Ksh258,040,000) – compared to the USD1,2 000 000(Ksh154,824,000) they received in 2022.Last year, Clubs benefited from the Financial injection from the African Football League that offered a total prize money of USD8,000,000 (Ksh1,032,160,000).
