Proceeds Of Gor, Everton Clash At Goodison To Go To Charity

NAIROBI, Kenya- All proceeds from the landmark clash between nine-time English league winners Everton FC and SportPesa Super Cup champions, Gor Mahia FC on November 6 will go towards the Everton in the Community charity, organisers announced on Tuesday.

Gor will make history as the first African side to play at the hallowed Goodison Park having earned the right to play the highflying English Premier League (EPL) side on June 10 when they beat Tanzanian giants Simba SC 2-0 in the final of the 2018 Super Cup at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.

According to Everton who will host the first African side at Goodison, the match will kick-off at 10pm Kenyan time (+3GMT) with tickets retailing at £5 (KSh650) for adults and £1(KSh130) for under 18 and those over 65 years of age.

"All the proceeds will be channelled to the Everton in the Community (EITC),” Everton declared on their twitter handle on Tuesday afternoon.

It will be the second meeting between the clubs, the first a 1-2 success for Everton at the Dar-es-Salaam Stadium in Tanzania on July 13, 2017.

The game marked the first time Goodison favourite and former England striker, Wayne Rooney played in the famous blue Everton colours, marking his return with a wonder goal for the opener.

Rwanda international striker, Jacques Tuyisenge, notched the equaliser for a 1-1 half time score before Kieran McDowell scored a late winner for the Blues.

Silva magic

Everton went on to finish ninth in the 2017/18 EPL while Gor clinched their 16th domestic title, a feat head coach Dylan Kerr, attributed to the inspiration they got from playing the respected Merseyside club.

This year, Gor retained the Super Cup to set up another date with Everton and in the run-up to the contest, wrapped up the SportPesa Premier League title with six games to spare on August 25 when they sunk arch rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 in the Mashemeji Derby.

Portuguese manager, Marco Silva, has since taken over at Goodison and his side have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season displaying the kind of football that have marked Everton as a team to watch this season as they seek to return to European football next season.

Everton are seventh on six points after four games of the nascent season with the likes of Brazil international, Richarlison, Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, the resurgent Frenchman, Morgan Schneiderlin, Senegalese national Idrissa Gueye and England goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford among the star attractions in the side.

Tuyisenge, Kenyan international, Francis Kahata and Ivorian forward Ephrem Guikan are among the players Gor will count to cause an upset at Goodison.

In May, K’Ogalo took on English Football League Championship (second division) side, Hull City FC at MISC Kasarani where the visitors edged the Kenyan side 4-3 on penalties after a pulsating 0-0 draw in regular time.

That game shattered attendance records for Kenyan football, with the stadium filling up for the first time since 1997 when Harambee Stars played Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in a 1998 World Cup qualifier.

The Everton versus Gor clash is part of leading Africa bookmakers SportPesa, the shared title partners of both clubs grassroots football development initiative where the firm uses its international portfolio to expose local talent on the international stage.

Last week, Kerr declared that scouts from Scottish giants, Glasgow Rangers FC will be at Goodison to have a look at the East African talent on show, urging his players to take the opportunity to make the golden chance count.

Rangers appointed England legend and former Everton cross town rivals, Liverpool FC captain, Steven Gerrard as their manager at the close season.