Updated:Players involved in fracas against officials

Club official Jared Otieno Nyanjom, who runs the club’s media, posted the following narrative on social media

Lets talk about Libya trip because is has become the main concern at the KPL CHAT here.

This trip was organized after scrutiny and much-needed consultations.

Prior to the trip, I received a call from the office to accompany the team to Benghazi for a friendly match that the Libyan took so serious. I took some leave and informed the office where I work.

After the Mashemeji derby, the club OS Judith Nyangi raised an issue as to why she was not included as the head of the delegation, an issue that caused confusion making the trip almost to be aborted.

Her problem was why media guys were included and not her. Remember this trip required thorough media coverage than any other trip ever done before. It was a trip approved by FKF.

Same Judith Nyangi went to Egypt Embassy to alter the list of peoples who had already been booked by the Egyptian flight, but the process became futile. She gave up a lot of anger.

Players were well briefed on what they were to get and all agreed on the same. It was $150 per player.

All was well until we settled in the hotel at Benghazi.

Players’ argument was that whoever negotiated the quoted small fee. Remember allowances can be paid during friendly matches, but not appearance fees. The EC team renegotiated and the host agreed to add players $100 more. This was okayed by players.

On a fateful day, when the money arrived, captain Joachim Oluoch was given money to divide amongst themselves with players getting $250 each and TB $300 with the coach getting $500 and 2 EC members each to have $500 each. This is where hell broke and players demanded to know why others are getting more than them.

I was given $200 but after the commotion, the player demanded that this money be returned to them as they did not know me. I was asleep in my room at that time, woken up and I never hesitated to give the money back.

How the players divided the money is none of my business. They collected all the money from EC members to the little man they claimed to know nothing about.

On the match day, precisely after the game, we were invited to visit our host’s clubhouse where we even did a live coverage (its on Gor Mahia FC official pages)

Players demanded to see the big boss, to know exactly how much was given. They were told the same and the issue ended there.

We came back home satisfied. Some other small issues like players wanted to exchange blows were there which to me is normal, in fact, one player confronted me when I asked them to get to the bus as we were leaving the host’s clubhouse. As a mature man, I took this lightly considering the situation our players are at now.

We enjoyed the Libya trip, everyone was happy and we send a message to the World on football matters.

Let us not be driven by unwarranted emotions where one is looking for cheap publicity at the expense of the beautiful game. Football should unite, but not divide.

To media personnel, look for accurate information and feed people with facts not imaginations.

To Gor Mahia players, nobody forced you to play football, it is a career you chose by yourselves, humble yourselves and act professionally, your image translates to the club’s and more so to the country when you go out there.

I will welcome any questions concerning my observations as a club volunteered photographer.

The Daily Nation is reporting that during the recnet tour of Libya, Kogalo players, fed up with non-payment of allowances, stormed the hotel room of a senior club official to demand payment.

Additional reporting from the Nation

Senior Gor Mahia players were involved in a public spat with club officials over the sharing of allowances during the team’s recent visit to Libya, Nairobi News has established.

The Kenyan champions toured Tripoli this past week in a trip that culminated in a one-all draw in an international friendly against Al Ahly Tripoli.

CONFRONTATION

Sources within the team who spoke off the record have revealed how several players stormed the hotel room of a senior club official in an effort to have their monies paid.

“They (players) were left with no alternative. You know nobody trusts the other at this moment. The players have not been paid for three months and couldn’t take chances. There was a physical confrontation that led to the official releasing the cash to the players,” explained the source.

Twenty-eight Gor Mahia players made this trip and all of them are said to have accepted, only to later reject, a one-off allowance amounting to Sh15,000 each.

PLAYERS’ ALLOWANCES

That amount was increased to Sh25,000 per player after prolonged ‘consultations’.

The technical bench, including coach Steve Polack and the travelling officials, were each paid between Sh30,000 and Sh40,000.

It is not clear whether the club released an appearance fee for playing in this game