Gor Mahia stranded in Nairobi, again

The chaotic travel arrangements that have become synonymous with Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have resurfaced again as the club’s plans to fly to Zambia hit a snag on Friday night.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had promised to purchase return flight tickets for their CAF Confederation Cup return leg tie with NAPSA Stars of Zambia as a sign of good faith following the two entities’ truce over a deadlocked Broadcast deal involving Startimes.

However, federation chief executive Barry Otieno sent a late text message on Friday informing K’Ogalo that FKF was unable to pay for tickets owing to their bank accounts being frozen.

The text message, sent to team manager Jolawi Obondo threw K’Ogalo’s travel arrangements back to zero with time running out for the squad. The fixture against NAPSA Stars is penciled for Sunday 5pm Kenyan time.

The devastating news from FKF left Gor Mahia officials making frantic calls to aides of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is the club’s patron, with a view of getting a quick solution to their all too familiar plight.

The club earlier on Friday released their traveling party comprising players, technical staff and officials led by Secretary General Sam Ochola and treasurer Dolfina Odhiambo.

A source within the club confirmed to Mozzartsport that the team has been told to stay at home as the journey to Zambia could not take place on Friday.

“It is sad what the current officials have reduced this club to. They made arrangements with money they were yet to see and now everything is messed because the federation has not honored its end of the deal. FKF informed Gor Mahia very late on Friday that their accounts have been frozen therefore they could not pay for the tickets as earlier promised,”  

“The officials are now clueless and have resorted to looking for the patron to bail them out,” added the source