As all Kenyan football fans know, the 'Mighty K'Ogallo army', who prefer to call themselves 'Gor followers', are a double faced monster. On one side, they are beautiful, passionate, intense and committed football fans. Who wouldn't want such a group of football supporters? Especially when they come in millions?
The other side of Gor supporters is that of spoilt, impatient, selfish and ungracious brats. They will start throwing stones at every one and every thing in sight at the slightest provocation. The latest incident where they rained stones onto the Nyayo stadium pitch after their player Ali Abondo was red carded for an obvious foul, is only one of the many instances where Sirkaal's army have ruined a good day out at the beautiful game.
How can this unwelcome spectacle at our stadiums be brought to a conclusive and permanent resolution? Many responses have followed the recent Gor fans misbehaviour. Sports Minister Paul Otuoma summoned FKF and FKL to a meeting, FKF punished FKL's GMT Ottieno and reprimanded Frank Okoth before ordering that future encounters between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards be staged in Mombasa..
The Stadia Management Board, on its part, banned Gor from playing at Nyayo and Kasarani Stadiums.
Unfortunately, none of these measures is likely to end Gor fans' hooliganism. If I was asked, I would recommend the club be renamed and its culture be modified to reflect modern Kenya. After all, it was formed as a tribal outfit when such associations were fashionable in our Kenya of the time.
Today's Kenya scoffs at tribal groupings, as expressly stated in our brand new constitution. So, to deal with Gor fans recurrent rioting, rename the club 'Nairobi United', or something like that, and encourage club membership from all corners of the republic.
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