Bonface Osano
Gor Mahia’s 2-0 defeat to RS Berkane of Morocco in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals first leg match at the Kasarani Stadium on Sunday continues to generate more heat than answers.
Heading into the game, K’Ogalo held a perfect record of winning all their home matches including the famous 4-2 victory against Zamalek of Egypt.
But the low key show against the Moroccans, a team considered beatable owing to their poor domestic record, left the many fans who flocked the stadium shocked.
The background:
Gor Mahia qualified for the round of eight of the competition for the very first time and hopes were high ahead of first leg game.
However, preparation towards the game was shambolic. To begin with, the players refused to go to camp and did not train, leave alone feel the pitch on the eve of the match as required by CAF regulations.
The team only assembled on match day and took to the field and it was evident they were not ready for the game.
On Friday the players were paid their March salaries, nonetheless, they were unhappy that their accrued winning bonuses were not part of the package. Having failed to meet the chairman Ambrose Rachier to register their grievances, the players chose to strike.
Read: Gor Mahia Pip Sharks To Go Top Of The Table As Tusker Fall To Chemelil
They refused to train or go to camp which had been paid for for Ksh230,000.
Before the strike, the team played three Kenyan Premier League games in a span of five days, winning all without raising a finger over the allowances.
The timing for the strike has therefore been put to focus having in mind that it was a knockout game with minimal chance for recovery.
Those who bet will also tell you that the odds for RS Berkane winning was salivatingly high raising the question was the match fixed?
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