- Gor Mahia officials are at the risk of tackling a new scandal as they are accused of dodging a sponsorship deal with a betting firm after receiving a down payment of Sh10million.
Reports from various sources state that Gor Mahia officials were in talks with a Nigerian betting firm BetKing to strick a sponsorship deal to the point of the firm making an advanced payment.
“This could turn into a serious legal matter. BetKing are headed to court. They accuse the Kenyan champions of taking the money and refusing to sign the deal,” explained a source.
The 18-time Kenyan Premier League champions are alleged to have been offered a Sh30million shirt sponsorship deal by BetKing, but the K’Ogalo officials opted to seal a deal with Betsafe shirt sponsors who offered a better deal of Sh20million more.
Amid this scandal, and the huge sum of money mentioned, Gor Mahia players and technical bench officials are facing a difficult financial turmoil as the club still owe them accrued salaries dating back three months.
This will not be the first scandal from K’Ogalo. Five years ago, they signed a deal with Betway and surprisingly turned around and signed another deal with Sportika even before the ink has dried on the deal. Betway were unhappy and even vowed to take action legal action.
The BetKing firm have also announced title sponsorship with the Kenyan Premier League and Division One League. The monetary amount disclosed was worth Sh1.3 billion over the next five years.
Gor Mahia are lucky as their chair Ambrose Rachier is a lawyer and this might give them an added advantage as he is in a position offer legal advice in the legal suit that some of the officials are staring at.
