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Kasarani to host football match for the first time in 607 days
Nuclear experts inspect Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on April 19. Gor Mahia will clash with AFC Leopards in a league fixture at the venue this Sunday.
What you need to know:
- The Mashemeji derby attracts the largest crowds to local football presenting challenges to organisers in how to handle the spectators who are invariably charged up.
- On Many occasions the fixture has descended into chaos with stadium property bearing the brunt of the violence.
The 60,000-capacity Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani is set to host a competitive football match for the first time in 607 days.
And how apt that that match, to be held on Sunday, will pit traditional rivals and, decidedly, the most followed teams in the country, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.
While officially confirming this much anticipated Mashemeji derby yesterday, Football Kenya Federation issued a stern warning to both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards fans to maintain order during the fixture or risk biggest league fixtures.
“Kasarani will be hosting the Mashemeji derby this weekend and the federation is involved in planning for the game with hosts Gor Mahia more so concerning security of fans, match officials and all who will be at the stadium,” said FKF Secretary Harold Ndege at a press conference on Tuesday.
“We don’t want a repeat of what happened at Gusii and both sets of fans should maintain a high level of discipline. I want to promise that security will be on another level and anybody who wants to cause chaos will be dealt with, on this we will be monitoring every situation,” said Ndege.
This will be the first time MISC, Kasarani will be hosting a top-level football match since Kenya's 1-0 loss to South Sudan in an international friendly on September 12, 2023.
The venue was closed for renovation after the game and construction is still going on ahead of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championships (Chan) due in August. The continental showpiece for home-based players will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Kasarani is also a designated venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that the three East African nations will jointly host.
Gor Mahia officials met with Sport Kenya officials and Ndege at the federation offices to plan for the big league game on Sunday that is classified as a high risk fixture. The match will be key for Gor Mahia as they chase for an unprecedented 22nd national title.
A Mashemeji derby was last held at Kasarani on January 29, 2023 that ended in a barren draw. This weekend's clash will be the 97th meeting between the two Kenyan giants.
The first leg was initially scheduled for November 23 last year but was postponed due to lack of a suitable venue as both Nyayo and Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani were undergoing extensive renovations.
Rescheduled for March 1, the match was again postponed for the same reason.
The delayed fixture was eventually held at a jam-packed Nyayo Stadium on March 30 and ended in a barren draw but was anything but trouble free. Fans broke on the gates and forced their way inside.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya was assaulted by goons due to his political differenced with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The second leg which scheduled for April 6 but FKF said it needed time to review security and safety concerns before allowing the fixture to be held.
The Mashemeji derby attracts the largest crowds to local football presenting challenges to organisers in how to handle the spectators who are invariably charged up.
On Many occasions the fixture has descended into chaos with stadium property bearing the brunt of the violence.