Gor Mahia Dismiss Strike Reports Despite Unpaid Wages

Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia have moved to quash reports that players have staged a strike over unpaid salaries ahead of Wednesday’s African Champions League first round return leg match against CR Belouizdad.

All K’Ogalo players showed up for training on Tuesday morning after the club management assured them of their pay. The Kenyan champions had not trained since the first leg match in Algiers where they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat.

Club Chairman Ambrose Rachier has dismissed suggestions that the squad had been striking, but did acknowledge that the squad is yet to be paid salaries.

“There is no truth that players have been staging go-slows, first of all, the players had gone home for Christmas holidays and when they came back we also gave them another extra four days to extend their holiday with family members,” said Rachier as quoted by Goal.

“Those saying the players had staged a go-slow, or that they having been staging a go-slow to demand salaries, are not being sincere, the players have not staged any go-slow and all of them returned to training on Monday.

“We are working round the clock to make sure we pay them between today [Monday] and tomorrow [Tuesday], we are confident we will pay them their dues and we know they will be ready for the return leg match on Wednesday.”

Gor Mahia will need a 7-0 win at Nyayo National Stadium for them proceed to the group stages of the competition.

Seychellois Bernard Hensel Camille will be the center referee and he will be assisted by compatriots Hensley Danny Petrousse (First Assistant Referee), Steve Marie (Second Assistant Referee) and Eldrick Matthieu Adelaide (Fourth Official).

Mzee Zam Ali from Zanzibar will act as the Match Commissioner while Kenyan Dr. Wycliffe Makanga has been appointed COVID-19 Officer.

CR Belouizdad arrived in the country on Monday evening and had a feel of the Nyayo National Stadium turf on Tuesday afternoon.

The loser of the clash between the two sides will get a lifeline in the African Confederation Cup playoff round set to be played on February 2021.