Defending Kenya Premier League (KPL) Champions Gormahia FC have partnered with with Acakoro Football Academy to form their ladies’ team, Gormahia Queens.
In a landmark announcement that was made via their digital platforms and newsrooms, Acakoro u-19 ladies which currently plies its trade in the FKF Women Division 2 League will now transition to Gormahia Queens, with all their players (26) and technical bench being absorbed to the new team.
“Acakoro Football Academy is very proud to announce the partnership with Gor Mahia FC that sees the U19 girls’ team of Acakoro transition into Gor Mahia Queens. All 26 players and the technical bench of our U19 girls’ team will be taken over by the Kenyan record champion,” read the statement.
Speaking to the media, Acakoro CEO Rashid Mohamed noted he was elated that it was possible to offer the girls a promising exit strategy from their younger talented players.
“Acakoro is an academy which is concentrating on the talent development of the youth up to 19 years. Our strategy involves the preparation of the players for their next step into professional football and as such we don’t have our senior teams. Therefore, the transition of our U19 girls to Gor Mahia Queens marks a successful step. We hope to replicate this success with our U15, U12, and U07 girls who will remain with the academy until they finish secondary school. The boy’s department is not influenced by this partnership, “noted Mohamed.
Since 2013, Acakoro Football has managed to have over 30 players who have played for the Kenyan Youth National teams in the boys’ and girls’ categories. Also, currently, girls and boys are featured in some youth national teams, including Slyvlia Makungu who is part of FC Wacker Innsbruck in the Austrian 1st Division Women’s League.
The move is also in line with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) club licensing rules which require top-flight clubs to invest in and have fully-functional youth structures.
Unveiling Of Gor Mahia Youth FC & Gor Mahia Queens FC https://t.co/0xrIzgdsKZ
— Gor Mahia FC Ke (@gormahiafcke) February 4, 2024
Recently, the Football Kenya Federation’s First Instance Body (FIB) – an independent decision-making body set up by all CAF’s member associations fined KPL side FC Talanta USD 3,300 which was a penalty for the non-fulfilment of the criterion that required presenting a Women’s team as stipulated in the issued National Club Licensing regulations.
The Club was given a license but penalized USD 3,000 for the infraction and given a grace period of three (3) months to complete the formation of both the Youth Team and Women’s Team. The club paid the fine in addition to USD 300 for failing to adhere to the stipulated timelines by a total of three days.
