Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have been officially invited to participate in the inaugural Coal City International Cup set to take place in Enugu, Nigeria.
This pre-season extravaganza scheduled to start on August 1, 2024, promises to be a thrilling showcase featuring some of the best clubs from across the globe.
Organized by the Enugu State government, the tournament aims to bolster both the entertainment and economic landscape of the region.
According to Ifeanyi Ogbu, the spokesperson for the competition, the event will host eight teams, including Gor Mahia, and will run over nine match days at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Among the international participants are Brazil’s Esporte Clube Vitoria and FC Kallon of Sierra Leone, along with Cotton FC from the Republic of Benin.
Representing Nigeria will be prominent clubs such as Enugu Rangers, Enyimba of Aba, Kano Pillars, and Remo Stars of Ogun State.
Each team is guaranteed an appearance fee of N5 million (Ksh478,000) per match, ensuring that every club will earn a minimum of N15 million (Ksh1.4 million) after playing at least three matches.
“The financial incentives are substantial, not only for the clubs but also for the state, which expects to generate approximately N3.5 billion (Ksh286 million) by the end of the tournament,” Ogbu elaborated in a recent interview as per Nigerian publication, The Nation.
The grand prize is especially enticing with the champion slated to take home N50 million (Ksh4.7 million) and the runner-up earning N10 million (Ksh954,000).
Ogbu highlighted the broader implications of the tournament which will run for 10 days.
“With the successful hosting of this tournament, we can begin to consider Enugu as a viable location for future international matches,” he added.
