Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia have written to the Football Kenya Federation asking them to reconsider the decision to revoke the club’s license certificate.
In a letter written to FKF CEO Barry Otieno and copied to the head of Caf Club Licensing Muhammad Sidat, K’Ogalo chairman Ambrose Rachier said they had fulfilled all the requirements.
“We ask your able office to reconsider the earlier decision on revoking our certificate and reinstate our club on the Caf inter-club competition,” Rachier’s letter read in part.
“We write to appeal the revocation of our club license certificate. We received the letter this afternoon through FKF SG/CEO Barry Otieno.”
“To confirm to your table office all the overdue payables to the above former players have been duly remitted and all the remittance slips shared herein,” the letter read.
Gor Mahia were cited for arrears owed to former players, Congolese Sando Yangayay, Malian Adama Keita and Jules Ulimwengu of Burundi.
The record Kenyan champions swung into action amid reports they risked being excluded from the Caf Champions League, whose draw is set for Friday evening.
This is after they failed to beat the July 20 deadline set by Caf instructing them to offset all dues owed to the three former players.
The development comes weeks after the Football Kenya Federation’s First Instance Board (FIB) granted Gor Mahia, Kakamega Homeboyz and Tusker FC licenses having met the basic requirements before the June 15 deadline.
The clubs moved to align with CAF rules that made it mandatory for all clubs taking part in the inter-club competitions to unveil women’s teams.
CAF introduced new rules on club licensing that took effect this season, including a clause requiring all top-flight clubs to own a ladies’ side or enter into a written agreement with an entity operating a women’s team.
“Specifically on the sporting criteria in the CAF Men’s Club Licensing Regulations (edition 2022), CAF has now introduced a requirement for women’s football teams, which means that clubs intending to participate in the CAF Interclubs competitions must have at minimum one (01) women’s first team participating in a competition sanctioned by the member association,” said CAF.
“To comply with this requirement, clubs may operate the women’s team(s)itself or have a written agreement with another entity who operates the team(s).”
Gor Mahia have reportedly entered into a partnership with Acakoro Ladies, who are expected to change their name to Gor Mahia Queens Football Club.
Participating clubs must also adhere to five-pillar criteria; sporting, infrastructure, personnel, administrative, legal and financial.