Gor Mahia respond to reports of players strike

Gor Mahia have come out strongly to refute reports of their playing unit downing their tools after going for months without pay.

Reports emerged on Thursday of K’Ogalo players staging a go-slow since Friday 16 April and boycotting training according to one of the players who sought anonymity.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Gor Mahia secretary-general Sam Ocholla acknowledged that players have not been paid but denied reports of them striking.

“The players have not downed their tools, there is no training. Players have been given their programs for individual training,”

“There is no football at the moment, when we got into office players had eight months arrears, now some players have one month or two months arrears,” said Ocholla. 

The reigning Kenyan champions have endured financial challenges with former forward Nicholas Kipkirui ditching the club due to going months without his dues.

Gor Mahia team manager Jolawi Obondo also denied reports that the players had boycotted training due to payment. 

“Those are just speculations, we stopped team training because of the pandemic, there are financial challenges which is expected because there are no sports in the country,”

“The players are however still training individually, the coach is sending the players the program but the challenge with the app is that you cannot know the fitness level of the players,” said Obondo.'

A player who sought anonymity also denied reports of players striking but admitted that the club owes him two months wages.

"I have not heard reports of playing striking, if they were on strike I would have known but they owe me two months salary which I'm waiting for them to settle. For some players the months are even more," said the player.