By Louis Kalinga
Recently crowned Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia were rewarded with KSHs 3,605,000 by their partners SportPesa on Wednesday morning after a remarkable season.
The breakfast at a local hotel was mainly purposed to congratulate Gor Mahia on their title after beating City Stars 4-1 in the last league game on Sunday.
It was Jonathan McKinstry’s first title in his first season with the club and participation in continental football next season made it even sweeter.
SportPesa’s CEO and Kasarani MP Captain Ronald Karauri graced the event to reassure the team of his commitment and relay his congratulations.
“We did not realize that it would take Gor just one season to win the title after we resumed our partnership. This has shocked many people and we are very proud.
“This is the beginning of going back to where SportPesa and Gor used to be, we are still on course to make this the best team in Africa,” Hon Karauri stated.
SportPesa and Gor Mahia re-entered into their iconic partnership last year, which the Member of Parliament reassuring the team that they will remain committed to their needs.
“This partnership is going to reach unmatched levels and we are ready to continue supporting you, more so as you go represent our country on the continental stage.
“I’m also happy to see that Shabana and Murang’a Seal have been promoted as well. The community clubs are the reason people will go back to the stadiums,” he added.
The leading gaming firm signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the record league winners in September last year.
Previously, SportPesa and Gor’s partnership saw many firsts for football as they were the first Kenyan club to play a match on English soil in 2018.
Gor lost 4-0 to English Premier League’s Everton FC at the Goodison Park, a second match against them after a 2-1 defeat in Tanzania the previous year as well.
“This is the most difficult spell Gor have been on and we are all just glad that we kept it together and managed to bring the title home.
“It was difficult before SportPesa came back on board, when players could not come to training and we would not be here without the sort of help they gave to us,” head coach McKinstry told SportPesa News.
“Only 5 players in the squad have lifted the trophy before and I am very proud of all the hard work and efforts of everyone in the squad. This is only the beginning,” the 37-year old tactician added.
Gor have now pocketed over KSHs 9 million for winning the league, after ICT CS Eliud Owalo awarded them KSHs 3 million with Ksh1.5 million and Ksh1 million coming from club patron former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and businessman Jared Otieno respectively.