Gor Mahia Head Coach Hassan Oktay Resigns

Kenya Premier League Champions Gor Mahia confirmed on Tuesday that the club had parted ways with head coach Hassan Oktay.

The Cypriot, who led 18-time Kenyan champions to the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final last season, offered to resign on Tuesday evening, and his decision was accepted.

“The coach asked for six days off to attend to his personal issues in Europe but has asked the club to release him from contractual duties that bound him to K’Ogalo until end of next year,” reads a statement on the club’s official website.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “The club has accepted Oktay’s wish to terminate his contract and thanks him for his services. The club also prays for Oktay’s situation to get better.”   [/perfectpullquote]

The 45-year-old, who led K’Ogalo to the 2019 Kenyan Premier League title, thanked the Gor fraternity for their support in his tenure.

“I wish to thank you and the entire club, including the fans for the opportunity you accorded me to manage this great club. I also wish you guys all the best in your forthcoming assignments,” Oktay stated in his resignation letter.

Oktay’s last assignment at the club was at Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Kagame Cup in July, where they were bundled out by Zambia’s Green Eagles after a 2-1 loss in the quarter-finals.

The news of Oktay’s apparent departure became public knowledge earlier last week as a section of local media reported that he was asking for a leave due to some challenges behind the scenes, including a pay dispute, and having no say over the transfer of players inside and out of the club.

Gor Mahia are set to play Burundian champions Aigle Noir in Ngozi in the first leg match of the lucrative CAF Africa Champions League on August 10 under interim coach Peter Odhiambo.