FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga has admitted at being puzzled by the reason the Mashemeji Derby had to be postponed for the second time.
On February 27, the eagerly awaited Mashemeji Derby between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, initially scheduled for March 2, 2025, was postponed once again.
This decision comes despite Nyayo Stadium being given the stamp of approval for hosting the match.
The ongoing renovations at Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, in preparation for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament, have been cited as the reason for the postponement.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced the postponement and assured fans that efforts are underway to reschedule the fixture under appropriate conditions.
FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga has expressed his surprise and confusion over the decision. He revealed that the only remaining work at Nyayo Stadium is the installation of floodlights, with two of the four floodlights already completed.
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“I do not understand why it was postponed. We have to play it very fast because when you delay these derbies, it will not make sense,” Mariga told Pulse Sports.
Mariga stressed the importance of playing the derby soon to avoid disrupting the league structure, noting that both games need to be played by May 31 when the league ends.
Mariga added, “We do not have to play it at Kasarani or Nyayo Stadium, but we will have to find a solution before then. We have been given the go-ahead to use Kasarani and Nyayo, but I have no clue or idea why the game had to be postponed.
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The Nyayo Stadium will be used for the upcoming clash between Harambee Stars and Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which will serve as new coach Benni McCarthy’s first home game at the helm.
In a bid to address the situation, FKF President Hussein Mohammed provided some hope, stating, “We know the contractors are working day and night to get Kasarani and Nyayo Stadia up to scratch.
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“ We knew we had a lot of work to do, like installing the floodlights, but we are working with the leagues and competitions committee to solve the issues regarding pending games within the next month.”
The new date for the derby will be announced in due course as the FKF works tirelessly to resolve the scheduling issues and ensure that the iconic match takes place under the best possible conditions.