Only 18,000 fans will be allowed to enter the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday for the rescheduled Football Kenya Federation Premier League match between arch-rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, the home team has revealed.
This is 78.6 per cent capacity of the recently refurbished Nyayo Stadium, which can accommodate 22,900, all seated.
Gor Mahia secretary general Nicanor Arum said this was to meet Sports Kenya’s requirement that the stadium should not be filled to capacity for this high-risk fixture.
Arum also revealed that the club has had to adhere to several conditions set by Sports Kenya, who manage Kenya’s public stadiums, to host the match.
Sports Kenya has previously banned and fined AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia for damage to their property attributed to the two clubs’ exuberant fans during Mashemeji derby matches.
“After we paid to use the facility, Sports Kenya insisted that we conduct three pre-event meetings before Sunday to firm up match hosting arrangements. We held one meeting on Tuesday, and we are set to hold another meeting on Friday and Saturday.”
The meeting involved Sports Kenya, AFC Leopards, the Football Kenya Federation, the police, and other stakeholders.
Sunday’s Mashemeji derby, the 98th league meeting between the two foes, was originally scheduled to be held last weekend but was postponed due to lack of a suitable venue.
The tickets went on sale online on Monday, retailing at Sh200 regular, Sh1,000 VIP, and Sh5,000 VVIP.
“We have moved away from the sale of physical tickets,” Arum said. “The tickets will be sold exclusively online, and we will try as much as possible to ensure that there will be no sale of tickets on match-day,” Arum added.
Fans planning to drive to the match venue will pay an extra Sh100 for parking. Arum gave assurances that the club has made arrangements for safe and secure parking.
Arum said that some 130 stewards will be deployed to provide safety and security services at the match.
The Mashemeji derby played at Nyayo on March 30 was filled beyond capacity, raising fears of safety, and attendance for Sunday’s fixture will be closely watched.
“There will be over 300 police officers at the match on Sunday. The officers will be drawn from the regular police, Administration Police, the General Service Unit, and the traffic department,” Arum said.
“We plan to open the gates at 9am so that fans can enjoy a performance by Musa Jakadala and also watch the curtain raiser match between Gor Mahia Queens and AFC Leopards Queens, which will kick off at 11.30 am,” Arum said.
Food and beverage vendors will be charged a fee of Sh500 before entering the stadium with their products. However, those selling water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages will be required to decant the liquids into plastic cups when selling them to fans.
“Selling the beverages in containers that can be used as projectiles will not be allowed. They have to sell them in less harmful containers,” Arum said.
