Gor Mahia stars set for exit after stellar season
THE GREEN ARMY: Gor Mahia fans leave no doubt where their passion and loyalty lies on matters football. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- Cost of success weighs down heavy on league champs as suitors target stars players
- The club will officially be crowned Kenyan champions Sunday afternoon at Nyayo Stadium, the third year in a row.
A galaxy of Gor Mahia stars are likely on the tail end of their K’Ogalo careers even as they are crowned Kenyan champions Sunday afternoon at Nyayo National Stadium.
The Gor Mahia quartet of Kenyan international striker Michael Olunga, Meddie Kagere (Rwanda), Karim Nizigiyimana (Burundi), Abouba Sibomana (Rwanda) have all been tipped with a move away from the club, barely a season after joining the cash-strapped 15-time champions.
Of these players, Olunga looks set for the exit, as his excellent 2015 season has seen him draw interest from far and wide.
Olunga attended trials with three South African clubs this season alone, and said yesterday that his chances of staying in the local league remain slim.
“There are many clubs who have expressed interest but I am still in consultation with my agent because I want to avoid making a wrong decision. The clubs from South Africa are yet to respond, but there are other offers that have come in so we shall see,” the Kenya international said.
“Right now it is important for me to try and win the Golden Boot tomorrow (Sunday) because that is within my reach. I know it is a long shot because I must score a hat-trick and hope that my rival (Tusker’s Jesse Were on 20 goals),” he said.
Olunga alongside Nizigiyimana and Kagere have played a significant part in what has been Gor’s iconic season in recent history, and they are in the running for Player of the Year accolade.
Gor chairman Ambrose Rachier refused to be drawn into this debate saying he would like to enjoy this afternoon’s coronation first, but even he admitted that his best players’ future prospects at the club were anything but secured.
“We shall cross that river when we get there. We have survived several challenges and at this point I don’t think that is a big problem.
“We shall have a meeting immediately after we are done with all our games where we shall talk with all the players and see where we stand.
“At this moment however, we are champions and it is important that we enjoy that moment before anything else,” he said. The club will officially be crowned Kenyan champions Sunday afternoon at Nyayo Stadium, the third year in a row.
