Financial windfall has made Gor the most financially stable club in the country.
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| Gor Mahia players walk out at halftime in a match against CNaPS of Madagascar during their Caf Champions League round one match played on February 13, 2016 at Nyayo Stadium. |
A survey carried two years ago put Gor Mahia as the best sporting brand in the country.
The International Certification Association-ICERTIAS placed Gor Mahia among top corporate and personalities who it termed as the most saleable brands.
Yet even with that the Gor Mahia fabric remained without a sponsor for two years since dairy company Tuzo walked out on the club. Still, Gor Mahia survived, through thick and thin, borrowing from well-wishers and putting up a paybill number.
The talk in town was corporate organisation feared partnering with Gor Mahia because of the loutish behaviour of some of the club fans.
Granted, some Gor Mahia fans have given the club a bad name by engaging in hooliganism but a large number of the club followers have the heart for the club and have supported it behind the scenes.
For three years, we have been unbeatable, yet we had no money. But a champion must always be crowned and two weeks ago Crown Beverages came on board to become the second sponsor of the club after betting company SportPesa.
ATTRACTED SPONSORSHIP
This financial windfall has made Gor Mahia the most financially stable club in the country.
And it comes with its challenges. One, there must be transparency in how these funds are managed.
Two, the club has attracted these sponsorship because of it’s performance which means the players should be the biggest beneficiaries of this sponsorship.
But ultimately, and the most important thing is that Gor Mahia fans must ensure they guard the sponsorship by keeping off hooliganism.
I admired the way our fans carried themselves when we played AFC Leopards during the Mashemeji Derby. We accepted the results and moved on.
That is the kind of mature behaviour that will bring in more corporate partners not only to Gor Mahia but also to other clubs.
David Minja, the marketing manager at Crown Beverages summed it so well during the unveiling of their partnership with Gor Mahia.
He said sports is the best avenue to market products and we as Gor Mahia are proud to be partnering with leading brands.
News that we will be unveiling a third corporate partner on April 16 is great not only to Gor Mahia but to Kenyan football. It simply shows that the local game has grown to be a recognisable brand with Gor leading the way.
