A Gor Mahia fan is pictured near the Kenya National Archives in Nairobi on March 30,2025 ahead of their 96th derby with AFC Leopards.EVANS HABIL/NATION
The highly-anticipated Football Kenya Federation Premier League first leg match between giants Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed due to the unavailability of a venue.
The Mashemeji derby was postponed after Gor Mahia, who are the home team in the fixture, wrote to the Football Kenya Federation notifying them of their inability to secure a suitable venue for the match, Kenya’s biggest club football fixture and most at risk of encountering safety challenges.
“In light of this challenge, we kindly request that the match be postponed to a later date to be communicated by your office in due course,” Gor Mahia secretary general Nicanor Arum stated a letter to FKF Leagues and Competitions Manager, Frank Ogolla.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause and assure you of our commitment to ensuring that the match proceeds smoothly once the new date is confirmed,” said Arum.
“Without a venue, the derby is off,” said FKF Head of Communications, Media and Public Relations Jeff Kinyanjui.
The match was initially scheduled to be played at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Sunday.
However, the venue was later changed to the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday to accommodate Nairobi United hosting Congolese club AS Maniema Union in a CAF Confederation Cup group match at Kasarani on Sunday.
Gor Mahia, could not secure MISC for the fixture on Saturday because Nairobi United and AS Maniema Union will be feeling the pitch on that day.
It has emerged that the club cannot host the match at Nyayo this weekend because the government has booked the venue for a function to mark this year’s World Aids Day on Sunday and Monday.
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