S. GitahiFountain Gate clear the air on Peris Oside's saga
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 18.09.23. | 19:20
She signed a two year deal in June 2022, but was terminated in May 2023
Tanzania’s Women’s Premier League club Fountain Gate Princess FC on Monday 17 September released a statement explaining its decision to mutually terminate former Kenya Women’s U20 captain Peris Oside’s running contract in May this year.
As per the club, Oside’s contract had been terminated earlier on mutual agreement and she received all her dues before her exit.
It has, however, been reported that her time at the club was cut short after it was discovered that she had an alleged relationship with one of the leaders at the club, and that she, as a result, got pregnant.
The letter, written by the team’s Acting CEO Japhet Makau, also mentioned that in accordance with the club’s internal investigation policy, the hierarchy wrote a letter to the unnamed accused person questioning the incident, in which a counter response was offered denying the said claims and allegations.
“The club has immediately suspended the accused person from his role, paving way for investigations to take place,” the communication read. “We are resuming our negotiations with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the affected family to figure out the necessary steps needed to solve this matter. We will continue to offer our support until the truth is identified, and action taken against the party involved.”
Oside, a former Nakuru City Queens player, in June 2022 signed a two year deal with Fountain Gate Princess FC, a team famed for its football academy that has branches in four Tanzanian cities; Dodoma, Morogoro, Gito and Dar es Salaam.
“We want it to be understood that our club is against any forms of this behavior, and has been working alongside several human rights agencies in offering seminars to both players and the team’s leadership, while establishing free communication between the two should matters concerning abuse or blackmailing occur,” the statement added. “Our players are also offered good security and are manned by female team matrons whether in or outside team camp.”
.jpg)
Even while admitting that some isolated cases between individual players and club leaders might be hard to track, Fountain Gate’s leadership believes that the truth regarding Oside’s case will be brought to light, with action being taken against the guilty party.
Oside, who was also captain of the Kenya U20 and U17 teams, made her debut for Fountain Gate against Simba Queens last year, seeing her team record a 1-0 win in the friendly match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
She was also the second Kenyan to play in the Tanzanian league after Harambee Starlets striker Corazone Aquino who plays for the aforementioned Simba Queens.
