Toxic Fumes Of Unpaid Allowances Suffocating Gor Confed Cup Ambitions

NAIROBI, Kenya- This was not how a date with destiny and history was supposed to end for proud Kenya glamour club, Gor Mahia FC.

Head coach, Hassan Oktay, cut a desolate figure on Sunday evening when even he could do nothing to prevent his SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions from surrendering to a meek 0-2 defeat to RS Berkane of Morocco.

The Cypriot-Turk was suspended from the dugout alongside five of his dependable players as Gor welcomed Berkane for the first leg of their CAF Confederations Cup quarterfinal at the MISC Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

MUST READ: Gor Mahia Go Down To Berkane In CAF Confed Cup Quarters First Leg

It was billed as the kind of matches the biggest club in the country thrives on, another chance to overcome adversity and show their might in the hunt for a historic league, domestic cup and continental treble.

Berhane could not believe their luck. A 24th minute own goal from Kenya international midfielder, Francis Kahata set them on their way before Bakr El Helali sealed the victory with a second in the 59th to set the Moroccan cup holders on their way to a first Confed Cup semi.

MUST READ: It's 'Mission Impossible 2' For Depleted Gor In Berhane Confed Cup Clash

The poisoned atmosphere inside Gor that has been simmering since the tail end of last season drained every bit of spirit among the battle weary players as the SPL champions were left with the unenviable task of conjuring what would be the mother of all comebacks in their glittering history to make the last four.

Modern day miracles in football however, do happen.

In February, English Premier League giants Manchester United FC overhauled a 0-2 home deficit in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League to advance on away goals following a 3-1 win at French aristocrats, PSG.

Mission improbable

MUST READ: AFC Leopards Disarm Ulinzi, Six-Star Nzoia Scale Mt. Kenya

On Sunday, right after Gor went down to Berkane, Watford FC hauled themselves from 0-2 down to seal a FA Cup final ticket when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 3-2 in extra time at Wembley to serve as exampled.

Therefore, what looks like mission impossible for Gor is not mission improbable but it is difficult to see whether the club can rise above their well-documented and nauseating off-field troubles to get ready for what would be the biggest game of their lives on April 14 in Morocco.

As Oktay faced the media following his most draining defeat since he took charge of the record 17-time domestic champions ahead of the start of the new season, he had ready reasons for the loss.

MUST READ: Blundering Lloris Says Tottenham Can Wreck Man City's Quadruple Dream

“My job is very difficult. These types of games require players to be at the best frame of mind. Days before the match the players are on strike. 

Gor Mahia FC striker Jacques Tuyisenge in action against Petro Atletico de Luanda at the Kasarani Stadium on Sunday, March 17, 2019. Gor Mahia won the game 1-0 to qualify for the CAF Confederations Cup quarterfinals. PHOTO/KellyAyodi

“You work so hard to motivate them all season and then this. A 2-0 loss because of this. I am so hurt. My job is difficult,” Oktay lamented in his post match interview.

Statistics will show his side hogged possession (61 to 39 per cent) and shots on goal (21 to nine) and efforts on target (six to four) but Berkane emerged with the ideal away day performance largely owing to the chaotic nature of Gor’s play.

MUST READ: Step Aside Salah, Sadio Is Now The Mane Man At Liverpool

Often, passes were over or under hit, shots on goal rushed and the quality of the final ball lacking, leaving the Moroccans with a simple task of soaking in the wild but ineffective attack mounted by Gor.

Anyone watching could tell the home side, that had won their six previous home Confed Cup matches, were not prepared for this game where besides Oktay, they were missing Confed Cup top scorer, Jacques Tuyisenge, captain Harun Shakava, defender Shafiq Batambuze and midfielder Ernest Wendo who were all suspended.

MUST READ: Delightful Deulofeu Double Sends Watford Into FA Cup Final

The build-up to the Berkane clash was dominated by reports players had downed their tools protesting over unpaid bonuses stretching to the tail end of last season where they contrived to lose six of their last 10 in all competitions.

Assured of a 17th league title; Gor stars started what has become their customary training boycotts over unpaid bonuses and allowances, with team management playing a game of cat and mouse with them.

Toxic atmosphere

The exit of popular British head coach, Dylan Kerr, who recently spoke of the toxic atmosphere in the final days of his tenure when he would find himself alone in training ushered the arrival of Oktay.

MUST READ: Veteran Jagielka Powers Everton To Victory Over Arsenal

But the same dispute spilled into the new season, with Kenya record scorer, Dennis Oliech, who opted to revive his career at the club going missing in mid February when he checked into his account to find only a fraction of the salary promised to him.

With the squad playing hardball, club management moved to settle their salaries on Friday but 24 hours later, the players refused to train ahead of the Berkane test insisting their allowances must be paid.

They cannot understand why a club that earned KSh27m and now KSh38m from making the group stages and quarterfinals of the last two Confed Cups cannot settle their allowances with some players said to be owed in excess of KSh120,000.

MUST READ: Brilliant Messi, Suarez Break Stubborn 10-Man Atletico Resistance

Playing North African teams has often proved to be a nadir for Kenyan sides, Gor included but over the last two seasons, the SPL titleholders have defied their supposed might at home.

In the 2017/18 Confed Cup, Gor held USM Alger to a 0-0 draw at Kasarani before blowing Egyptian giants Zamalek 4-2 in January. 

Another Algerian side, NA Hussein Dey were outclassed 2-0 in the pool stages of the current competition before Berkane came to town and ended the strong home record.

Sunday’s showing should be a wake up call to the Gor management of the urgent need to resolve the shameful dispute with their players. 

The intervention of revered Club Patron and former Prime Minister, Raila Amolo Odinga- a ready route club officials has turned to quell unrest- can only go so far in soothing the players who frankly, have had enough of empty promises.

MUST READ: Super-Sub Kean Strikes Juventus To The Brink Of Serie A Title

With Gor (44) two points clear at the summit of the SPL with a game in hand over closest challengers, Sofapaka FC and the team still alive in the SportPesa Shield domestic cup where they face Bandari FC in the round of 32, there is still time to salvage the treble ambitions for the country’s glamour club.

The ball however, is in the court of club chairman Ambrose Dickens Otieno Rachier, otherwise known as ADOR and his team since the players have already played their hand by voting with their feet.