Gattuso defends himself
Courtesy of michezoafrika.com
Gor Mahia Collins ‘Gatusso’ Okoth midfielder has come out strong to defend his reputation against claims of indiscipline. Okoth who has been subject of discussion amongst Gor Mahia fans is said to have refused to take a penalty on Sunday when his team took on Tusker FC during the DSTV Super Cup match.
Being a regular penalty taker, Gatusso is said to have been among the likely spot kick takers when his team settled for a 1-1 draw against Tusker and the match had to be settled on post-match penalties. Tusker eventually won the match 4-1 with Gor Mahia wasting two penalties that were taken by Moses Odhiambo and Donald Mosoti.
Okoth is also being accused of absconding training in the run up to the Super Cup match while the team was camping in Naivasha.
But Okoth, in an exclusive interview with michezoafrika.com has dismissed all the accusations leveled against him and called on fans not to blow the mater out of proportion.
“ I have never absconded training as some have reported. I had permission from the coach and technical bench and they are both my witnesses. While in Naivasha, I received information that my mother had been taken ill and was admitted. I had to request a day’s leave to rush back to Nairobi and attend to the same. I later came to learn that someone said I ran away from camp. This is very untrue and unfair to accuse me in such a manner when I have tried to give my all to the team.” He said.
Okoth further defended his decision not to take the penalty on Sunday against Tusker since he did not have the confidence to face his former team mate in goal.
“I have been at Tusker before and all the players, in particular Samuel Odhiambo the goalkeeper understands me pretty well. Considering my history at Tusker, taking a penalty at that point was very disastrous for me and I did not have the confidence to take the same. This was not in bad light and no one knew Gor Mahia would lose in penalties. We had confidence in all our players but unfortunately we did not win the match.” Added Okoth.
I said that before we go condemning we need to hear Gattusso’s story. I now wonder what will happen to those who had alredy judged him. That is one behaviour we need to change within ourselves else we will always make the wrong decisions based on lack of adequate information. Not sure if we will aplogise for what we implied on this blog on the same topic but all the same we need to adopt a culture of tolerance and understand that players are also human. There have their fears (like explained above on the penalty shootout), they have bad days etc .
On another note Thika is charging us 300/= for the sunday match. Isn’t that daylight robbery? Even against AFC we don’t pay that much!! Who will save us from this exploitation? And who will stop the other teams from doing the same?
Give this man a chance he may have made mistakes, all he need is support and not attacks from Green Amy un patient fans, if he made a mistake displine him and rest this story other wise it will start affecting the rest of the team and we have a game this weekend. I believe in him.
Even if this guy didn’t rum away from the training camp,what about the abusive language and the off ball incidents?we are not condeming him but he needs to change and play positively not dribling the ball back to his box.
RETURN BACK TO GREEN & WHITE AS 2012 SEASON KICKS OFF
@Post 28 Ndugu Ole Lelerue, you have captured my inner feelings with the words “The Green & White jersey being replicated as the official colours of K’ogalo flagship.
Our colour-branding has been our birth right since the inception of GOR MAHIA in 1968. I hereby disparately appeal to current EC to understand that they can not be exempted from the above issue at stake within GM stakeholders.
During our DSTV CUP tie against TUSKER last weekend I encountered an embarrassing moment trying to convince my son to identify with GM despite them wearing blue. Below is the excerpt testimony as we prepared for the day from the house to the Nyayo stadium.
BEFORE DEPARTURE TO THE STADIUM
SON: Which team are we playing and what is the colour of their uniform?
OGANGO: We are playing against TUSKER ,their colours are YELLOW & BLACK.
SON: Is GOR MAHIA the home team?
OGANGO: There is no home team it’s cup tie, just like your end term exams.
INSIDE THE STADIUM
SON: Dad it seems like SOFAPAKA or is it AFC who are playing; Where is the Green or
White team?
OGANGO: No it is GOR MAHIA but they are wearing BLUE.
SON: BLUE my foot! You once told me blue colours belong to wild and domestic cats.
OGANGO: Yes, but I do not why they are always in Blue for the last three games. May be
It is this thing called TUZO.
SON: But both Green and White have this thing your calling TUZO.
OGANGO: This is really frustrating son; but I can not buy this BLUE jersey for you.
SON: Why?
OGANGO: Ever since your grandfather introduced me in football matters , GOR MAHIA
official brand has been in WHITE & GREEN colour, but now it seems like
some cartels are out to sell our birth right which is unacceptable.
SON: So currently are you member of the GREEN or BLUE ARMY?
OGANGO: No..No..No…! That will never happen my son; And listen to me very keenly,
World wide the universally accepted colour for an ARMY is either GREEN or
JUNGLE GREEN. BLUE colour is for the AIR FORCE and since GOR MAHIA
plays carpet football you can not change that at all cost. BLUE is the colour for
teams that play aerial soccer without purposeful strategy.
SON: That is a fact DAD and infact look at how today GOR MAHIA is playing by truly
kicking the ball in the air ; I think they deserve the BLUE colour from the way
they are displaying football.
OGANGO: Let us leave that for today, but hopefully GOD will hear our players and as
usual we will bounce back to our free flowing and entertaining football,scoring
memorable goals while wearing our trade mark “GREEN” at home and the
sparkling white while playing away matches. And the blue jersey will just
disappear back to their rightful owners.
SON: You mean when you play in BLUE you ape the cats family style of play?
OGANGO: Yes! Have you ever seen BARCA in white or REAL or blue and red strips.
SON: No Dad and as matter of fact BARCA plays a attractive and stylist football while
In there colours just like GOR MAHIA when wearing there brand.
Dan, Motema Pembe, thats his side of the story, someone else now needs to give the other side then we will judge who is fooling who. Ogango, you are a real trailer, this is a real tickler.Some times we need such.And by the way what happened or are the green and white reserved for REAL business? Office, over to you.
Guys it is sad to say but now i understand why someone once declared that we are an army! An army defends its territory! Its our right to watch GM play and therefore with or without 300/= i will watch GM at Thika on sunday. How i wish someone would advise them to wisdom…
As much as most of us bloggers have been on recor defending Gattuso, he must uphold discipline for him to go places in football. he must be disciple for him to even join professional ranks. It is a pity that such talent is spoiling his future for no reasons at all and may be he need psychologist to help him get out from his problems.
My advice to EC is to engage the services of professional psychologists to help our players achieve their hidden potentials and win games for the kogalo family.
whatever happenned, happenned! we must move on, the season is just commencing and there still lies a lot at stake. we must forge ahead such that the entire kogalo family ( the green army, the office, techinical team and playing unit) concentrate on winning trophies which we must
the kogallo diehard
THIS BLUE COLOUR IS FULL OF BAD OMEN. COULD THIS BE THE REASON WHY PLAYERS LIKE GATTUSSO ARE EXPLODING BY EXTENSION. MAY BE GREEN OR WHITE MY BRING CALMNESS.
@Post 3 OGANGO TRAILER thank for the light and entertainment comments. Its soft and to the point.
Note for bloggers:
Discussing GATTUSSO personality very extensively
is very discouraging. This site has no access
control as such were leaking our dirty linen to
the enemy.
I had decided not to contribute to this gattuso saga,thats’ why i havent’ contributed anything on this and the previous posts.But the trailer man @no4,has really left me with painful ribs.Anyway what happened already happened,and as they say,’yaliyopita si ndwele tugange yajayo’.Lets’ focus our energies on the task ahead (the sunday match).See you guyz at the municipal stadium in thika!
Seems the players,bench n EC r not in sync n this is reflected on the pitch as lightly put by Ogango.Btw just to note Moses Odiambho was excused frm 4 the same tusker match 4 personal reasons without any hulabaloo, cld it be coz he explained his situation/problems.But the reason of 4 not taking the penalty does not wash, it started allegedly with Masika!Luckily Le Pastre us gave a solution.Can the mpesa biz no. n conditions b given so those who cant make it to thika can b able to contribute something
Sorry to be absolutely clear its Moses (no.30) who was excused for personal reasons.
Pls read ths:
Can you imagine Mike Phelan (Asstnt to Sir Alex Ferguson) and Wayne Rooney having ago at @ other in the media? Can you imagine Pat Rice (Le Prof Wenger’s Assistnt) and Song Dimitri Alex havng ago at @ other in the media?
It wl never happen bcse these clubs have structures and are run professionally acording to the rules. Not by the whims of the fans and/or EC.
1. The Press/Media has a dual personality and we mst be aware of this. Good news sells but bad news sells better. We are going to solve nothing thro’ the Media Mr. Bwana the SG, and you knw this very well. You wanted a circus Mr. SG, and now yu av got one since Gattuso has given his defence thro’ the Media! Remember Mr. SG- yu used the media first to accuse Gattuso of INDISCIPLINE. This left him wth only one option: To plead his innocense tho’ the same arena yu had used when charging him- the media. Dont 4get Mr. SG that you started it all by y’rself when yu wnt public wth the issue. If nt carefully handled, the issue has the potential to be cancerous. It may spread hence bringing redicule to y’self and to the club. This is so bcse, a section of the bloggers nw wnt a 3rd verson b4 they can tke a vote to determine who is telling the truth. Dont be tempted to digress to tht level Mr. SG. Having worked in the media industry for a long time, I trst yr judgement Mr. SG.
FINDINGS
1. All the parties:- SG, Gattuso and the fans that have participated in this debate in one way or the other are all guilty of AGGITATION. Reason- They have all discused a delicate in-house issue in the public. This was a matter of house keeping and should have been handled as such. Balloteli Mario of Man City has a tendancy to fight with team-mates in training but the issues are alwys addresd immediately and ammicably without going to the press except the in-house press or TV.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. The club must set up a well defined structure on how to deal wth player issues. (code of conduct) Players must be made aware of the Laws governing such structures. These structures MUST not include the media at all.
2. If possible, the club should hire a PR officer to aticulate its issues to the public.
3. Press Briefs ie on Team news, line-ups, injuries, suspensions and signings should be delivered by the H/Coach once every week, preferably on Fridays.
CONCLUSION
Please let us be moderate and tolerant to each other including the players. We must always be our brothers keeper and be mindful of each others feelings. As we strive to drive Gor Mahia up the ladder of SUCCESS and EXCELLENCE, let us not forget that “IF GOD BE FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US” God bless you gall and thank you.i
sawa gatuso umesema lakini wr waiting to see u umechange plse time ni saSA .WACHA ZA KANDO WEKA TABIA POA TILL GAMEZOTE .SHOW UR TEAMMATE U CAN TOSHA .MINE IS SIMPLY HIYO .BWANA BWANA CAN U TELL US THIS BLUE SHIRT NANI AMEANZA NA STORY YAKE OR THEY HV PAID 60 MILLION THATS WHY? WHAT WA WATUZO AGAIN GATE TUNA SIKIA NI 300 IST TRU DO THEY KNOW WATACAM NAI HAPA KWANZA THEY DNT HV FANS WAKUTRAVEL LIKE US HOW CAN THEY MILK US.
NOTHING PERSONAL, JUST BUSINESS
First, we are glad the boy came out and explained himself. Llet us give him the benefit of doubt and also let the matter rest there.
I wish also to remind comrade Le Pastre that we always contribute on an issue already posted on this site. Unless this is not an official site, we believe the admin in their conscience felt the fans have a right to know what is happening as a way to improve accountability and transparency for the club.
As fans, we play an intergral part in this club. We remain the highest source of revenue for the club. It is the same resources the officials utilize to buy and pay allowances to players including Gatusso. So, we are first and foremost his employers. Thus we have a stake on everything that interest this club.
On the high gate charges, that is a matter for another day. We demand an explanation from our officials who will also take the matter way up to te Football Kenya Association. This was a matter well articulated on this blog last season and we don’t wish it to continue further.
i come out to support colo i feel taking a penalty is no big deal if you are not confident on the day keep of even the players you have adored like gods miss penalties so easily that some think he was not serious so what ,
indispline is part and parcel of society how we come out of it is what matters not how you dwell on the issue so much as amatter of fact all these bloggers have issues in their places of work but how they manage matters more that what they do let us see how awono the father head will act it should never have come out in the light like this this is too crude bwana where is your offuicial wbsite the club could have come out ot denny this then solve it internally
Gattuso is young and also understands the cry of every fan. ua future is bright just try to shape and a little discipline will save u your carrier dont cheated with same fans to be supporting u. we know ua problem just try to respect the game, referees and ua fellow players it will help u abig deal;.You are one of the best presently. Try plz
you are forgiven bro. we will support you for any positive effort you make. As my star player, fight in the field like frenchman bonaparte did for his nation.
We need to rank our players in this blog after every game in areas like man of the match, player of the months, player with best driblling skills etc.
NO CALVINCE thats nice but note NOT ALL OF us fanS can rank players badly or good and of course payers read this blogg I BEG TO OPPOS THAT ROHO SAFI .victimizing would start sasa where Would we stop that .look at gatuso case sasa . NO PLSE ALL FANS WE DNT DO THAT .ONLY HE WHO PLAYED POA THATS OK BUT RANKING THEM ABIG NO .am not part of that .
BLUE IS NOT THE COLOUR FOR GOR MAHIA! TUZO MILK SHOULD CHANGE ITS COULOUR TO GREEN NOT CHANGE GOR TO “BLUE”!IF THEY NEED TO DERIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM THE FANS. WHAT ARE THE GOR OFFICIALS DOING BY THE WAY? AREN’T THEY SUPPOSED TO CHAMPION FOR THE DESIRES OF THE GOR FANS? GOR OFFICIALS ARE YOU LISTENING??
We should rise and fall as a team. Gattuso’s case at hand is understandable and we should forget about it and forge ahead. However, may I point out that as Gor Mahia family, no one is too holy to be touched. Gattuso has been mentioned in a number of indiscipline cases.How come other players have never been mentioned with regard to such cases. If it is true,,that he is indisciplined we’d rather deal with him before he influences other players.Gor Mahia is bigger than any individual player. Lets face issues head on.
Also this talk of us solely depending on michezoafrika for club updates and giving response based on such updates should stop.We are being fed with stale,useless,one sided,non factual and boring crap.
Well explained Gattuso. Now prove to them that you are the right man for Gor Mahia by manning the Mid field well.
Blogger can someone tell me why to find tickets in nai?
Bloggers can someone tell me why to find tickets in nai?
Tomorrow lets meet at thika to cheer our team. Go kogalo go! msimu huu hawatuoni. The dstv cup was to be ours it was just due to hitches and frustrations we faced and challenges of poor officiating in the beginning,bt we are fine,so fine…