Gor Mahia head coach calls on club to settle salary arrears
Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions are increasingly facing headwinds over unpaid allowances owed to the playing unit even as the team’s coach Steve Polack has urged the management to sort out the issue to prevent more players from leaving the team.
Polack made the clarion call as he proceeded to England to see his family before the resumption of the league.
Speaking to Gor’s official portal, Polack said that a default to settle arrears to players was demotivating to them, adding that alternative ways should be sought before the resumption of the league.
Polack made the plea despite Gor Chairman Ambrose Rachier having earlier stated that the management does not have money to pay players and is solely depending on the sponsorship by Betsafe which will only come to effect when the league officially resumes at an unknown time.
Rachier conceded that the management has yet to pay players for six months due to crippling challenges.
In the meantime, Polack said he is in dilemma following the cash crunch, adding that he intended to improve the club’s fortunes in continental competitions.
“I will be heading home in the next 10 days because I have not seen my family for a long time.
Players are currently leaving Gor Mahia and all I have to do before leaving is to ensure myself and my staff are paid all their dues.
I have also to know the management plans on new signings,” Polack told Nairobi News.
The 18-time Kenyan Premier League champions have been in financial turmoil and owe the coach, players and members of the technical bench salaries not paid for the past six months.
Gor , who have missed the KPL title only once in the past eight years, have a huge wage bill of Sh5.5 million per month but the club management has in the past said it intends to reduce the figure to Sh3 million to enable it smoothly run its affairs next season.
However, Polack assured Gor Mahia fans that he would come back to Kenya to continue coaching the team as he ‘can’t run away’ if all issues pertaining to payment have not been resolved.
“It will be painful for me to come back then we experience the same go slows and off-pitch issues we have had in the past. That is why this has to be sorted,” he added.
The financial constraint at Gor Mahia is causing jitters among fans who blame the management for sleeping on the job as key players join rival teams.
Some of the notable players who have left are assistant captain Joash Onyango, who a few days ago joined Tanzanian giants Simba SC.
Lethal striker Boniface Omondi joined Wazito while custodian David Mapigano and his Tanzania counterpart Dickson Ambudo have joined Azam and Dodoma Jiji FC respectively.
Ugandan import Juma Balinya and Captain Kenneth Muguna are negotiating with Azam and Petro de Luanda of Angola while Ghanaian midfielder Jackson Owusu, whose contract has expired, is also unsure of his future at K’Ogalo.
Gor also released goalkeeper Fredrick Odhiambo, who is on the verge of signing for Wazito.
