The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) announced it had pardoned Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia for acts of indiscipline during the just concluded Cecafa Kagame Cup in Tanzania.
Cecafa's secretary general Nicholas Musonye confirmed that the Kenyan club had been paid the Ksh1 million prize money for finishing third at the competition.
This sum was initially withheld by Cecafa as part of the punishment.
"I have already wired the prize money to the club and wish the team all the best especially in the continental assignments because they will be flying the Cecafa flag. Those players are my children and I have forgiven them," Musonye stated.
[caption caption="Gor Mahia players"]
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In regards to the two-year ban, Musonye added: "The Cecafa hierarchy will meet and discuss the way forward. I will plead for them to be pardoned."
His sentiments came hours after Gor Mahia team manager Jolawi Abondo issued a public apology over the team's conduct where he also blamed the sabotage on ‘satanic powers’.
"On behalf of the Gor Mahia technical bench and the playing unit, I wish to unreservedly apologise to Cecafa and FKF. Our actions were not aimed at demeaning the competition," the team manager remarked.
Cecafa had slapped K’Ogalo with a two-year ban after their players and officials snubbed the prize giving ceremony of the tournament owing to a pay dispute.
Gor blatantly refused to pick their bronze medals for emerging third last Friday during the medal presentation ceremony led by Tanzania's Sports Minister Charles Mwakyembe and Speaker of the National Assembly.
[caption caption="Gor Mahia players celebrating a title win"]
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Musonye had earlier maintained that Cecafa will not give the Kenyan champions a chance to appeal the ruling, before adding that Gor also forfeited their Sh1 million prize for finishing third in the tournament after their conduct.
