Gor Mahia should expect to be mistreated in Nigeria
The return leg of the Africa Champions League first round match against Lobi Stars is set for next weekend. Going by the recent experience of Kenyan teams that visited Lagos, Gor Mahia had better liase with the Kenyan embassy and start creating their own plans for accommodation and travel.
When Harambee visited Nigeria in 2013, they were subjected to shoddy treatment by their hosts. Among other things:
- Players were given chilly food with so much pepper. They declined to eat
- The team was promised a connecting flight to Calabar, the venue of the match upon arrival in Lagos but this was not to as the chartered plane they were to use is said to have left before their arrival.
- The Kenya team arrived in Lagos at midday only to be met by a bus driver who did not have any instructions on where to take them. It is only after the driver communicated with NFF officials in Abuja that the players and officials were booked in a ‘sub-standard’ hotel in downtown Lagos next to a nightclub.
- A training venue was not provided to Harambee Stars.
- The person who had been assigned to receive the team switched off his phone at 4pm when the team was expecting to be taken to the training venue.
- With no suitable venue available., Harambee Stars had to conduct their training inside a primary school in Lagos.
A similar scenario played out at the 2018 African athletics championships that were held in Nigeria. Hundreds of athletes from several countries were stranded and spent several nights sleeping at the airport without proper food. .
While these athletes were sleeping at the airport, their Nigerian hosts, athletes and officials were situated at a luxury hotel and had no such problems.
Gor Mahia should expect similar treatment. It is therefore incumbent on the club to be proactive and start creating their own travel and accomodation plans. Note that the return leg will be played in Enugu which is 500 km from Lagos but could be 800 km if there are connecting flights. This could be a logistical nightmare if not well planned.
In 1988, Gor Mahia visited Congo-Brazzaville to play Inter Club. They were subjected to shoddy treatment and even denied a suitable training ground. They ended up losing 4-1. And in all these cases, filing a complaint or an appeal to CAF or FIFA will fall on deaf ears.
Mental conditioning must be part of the team’ s preparation. The team is not going to Nigeria on a holiday. In any case Nigeria would not be your holiday destination if you were to have one. As part of that mental conditioning, go to Nigeria focused on reclaiming the one goal accidentally given away on Sunday. I had that the late ‘ Ochido’ carried unga for the teams’ meals when going to the Nirth. Gettiing what you want at this stage will be more important than the absence of a luxerous hotel or bus for one days. Go Go Go boys. You already have your neck in.
Gor’s EC should immediately liase with Kenyan Embassy and also send a team on the ground to prepare teams arrival logistics or else our boys will be mistreated badly.
Here we go again retreating to our cocoons, sticking our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich, going into hibernation ati GO, GO,GO BOYS, MARA GOR HOOYEE instead of demanding/ confirming that our heroes be paid immediately.
The players did their part and won BUT HAVE THEY BEEN PAID THEIR NOV18 SALARIES TODAY IS 17 DAYS AFTER MONTH END.
While in Nigeria what will their wives and children back home in Kenya eat?
Has the club paid Nov18 NHIF for the players, so that at least their families are medically covered as they give their all for the Nigeria return match.
It is time for fans, stakeholders and entire Gor Mahia fraternity to return the favour and compel EC to pay the players their Nov18 salaries immediately, no IFS, no BUTS. SP has given EC the players salaries not only for Nov18 but also for Dec18 as well.
JASEGO , JAKOYO HAVE THE PLAYERS BEEN PAID AT LEAST THEIR NOV18 SALARIES!
Jasego your our chairman now. We hope you travel to Nigeria earliest and start making preparations. If For will rely on their host to travel to Enugu then forget about arriving for the game early
The idea of liaising with the Kenyan embassy in Nigeria is good but not good enough!
An advance reconnaissance scouting team should have already been dispatched to take care of nitty gritty like food, hotels and travels!
Otherwise, we are in for a horrible time! Courtesy and decorum is a preserve for countries like Kenya and Uganda. Anywhere, West Africa-wards and you are in for a cultural and socially shocking atmosphere, be it in a hotel, food and especially travel!
Matatu travel in the 90s and air travel in Naiga are very similar. It’s more like survival for the fittest in a congregation jungle… I won’t go into details! Leave alone road travel!
If we are wise, which am hoping our EC has taken care of, we better sort the return leg itinerary yesterday!
Otherwise, God willing, we will make it to the groupstages! We can only do so much; the rest is up to Him!