Muguna opens up on referee scuffle after Napsa Stars clash

After the much-publicised scuffle between Gor Mahia players and the referee after the CAF Confederation Cup Play-Offs clash against Napsa Stars, captain Kenneth Muguna has opened up on the incident.

Gor Mahia players accosted the Mosotho referee Lebalang Mokete after he awarded a dubious penalty to Napsa in the 94th minute when added time had elapsed. 

Muguna denied seeing players destroying the dressing room at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia adding that the referee was rude to the players who demanded an explanation for his penalty decision.

“I think the players were disappointed after the game, they were pushed to the limit and showed their frustrations, he (the referee) was also disrespectful when the players tried to ask him about the decision to award a penalty.”

“I think the focus should be on whether the referee officiated the game correctly, as a person who was in the changing room nothing happened and if somebody destroyed anything, I did not see it,” said Muguna.

Gor Mahia through their Secretary-General Samuel Ochola has threatened to sue the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of a possible ban due to alleged confrontation with the referee.

The decision to award the penalty which was dispatched by former Southampton midfielder Emmanuel Mayuka bundled out Gor Mahia from the Confederation Cup to extend their stay out of the competition to two seasons.

Muguna also noted that the referee made a number of questionable calls in the game which did not sit well with the players. 

“The referee was not fair from the word go, there was a time Napsa should have been reduced to 10 men, he also made wrong offside calls which killed us. That is not the spirit of football, because he not only killed us but Kenyans who were behind us,” he added.

Attention for Gor Mahia now shifts to the league where they have stuttered, sitting ninth on the log with 16 points from nine games and next face Nzoia Sugar on Saturday 27 February.