By Fredrick Nadulli,
Few clubs in the continent and beyond can boast of fanatics as patriotic and passionate as those of Gor Mahia. You got to give it to these enthusiasts who cherish their club and are prepared to pay any price, all in the name of supporting their team. In Africa, perhaps only South African sides Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates command such massive followings. Further afield, those hotheads at Boca Juniors come to mind.
GOOD OVER EVIL
Granted, these sometimes overzealous fans get the club in serious trouble, what with running battles with the police, to property damage, to making the club pay unprecedented hefty fines after massive destruction left in their wake, all in the name of supporting Gor Mahia.
True, a few goons may hide behind the facade of genuine fans and unleash terror, but the general observation is that nobody messes with Gor Mahia and gets away with it. Their passion is almost proportionately equivalent to their mad enigmatic character.
When defender Solomon Nasio was injured in the line of club duty and subsequently shunned by the management, the fans held a spirited campaign and raised more than enough funds to enable the neglected player undergo corrective surgery.
When the club lost its lucrative shirt sponsorship deal and was on the verge of a financial meltdown, it was the “Green Army” that rushed to the rescue in a mobile money campaign dubbed “Together we can.” To date, the club largely survives on this initiative coupled with healthy attendances during matches.
When the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) inadvertently threatened to write to CAF seeking permission to withdraw Gor from continental assignments because of the club’s allegiance to rivals Kenyan Premier League (KPL), the football-mad fanatics made it clear to the federation they were messing with the wrong guys. Knowing these people, the FKF beat a hasty retreat. Their message had sunk home.
During the hearing of the disgraceful court case that stopped Kenyan top flight league football, Gor Mahia fans’ presence was noticeable at the Milimani Law Courts, in solidarity with fellow countrymen who mean well for Kenyan football. A top official believed to be a major stumbling block in development of the game was made to sprint for dear life, angry fans hot on his heels. A green tidal wave it was
MESSIAH
As it is, Gor Mahia fans are trouble, but Kenya dynamics demand such ilk. They have their hands on the pulse of football in this country. Their role as watchdog in a society like ours cannot be over-emphasized. They have their dark side, but their rugged nature keeps some people on their toes and glancing over their shoulder.
For the sport to progress and rogue administrators kept in check, perhaps we need a certain degree of that madness, and blind passion, as exemplified by Gor faithful from time to time.
