Gor Mahia has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons lately after a players' strike saw their pre-season trip to Nigeria cancelled.
However, club chairman Ambrose Rachier says the aborted trip was mainly due to the organisers failing to secure their air tickets and visas on time.
“We were yet to get visas, let alone air tickets. The tournament organisers were to avail all these, but they hadn’t met the end of the bargain by Tuesday night. We had to withdraw from participating and concentrate on the remainder of pre-season activities," Rachier said.
Rachier, however, admits that the players' strike played a part in sabotaging the Enugu trip. The players absconded training for three days demanding part of the FKF 2023-24 prize money.
"The players went on a strike, demanding part of the prize money. It caught us by surprise since such clauses don't exist in their contracts. We had paid them all their dues, and, unfortunately, they played a part in sabotaging the trip to Nigeria," Rachier said.
Despite partly absolving the players from the aborted trip blame the football administrator insists they have to pay for their sins.
In the show cause letter addressed to the players by secretary general Sam Ochola, they will also get fined some money.
“The club will consequently withhold the portion of your monthly salary, allowance and all pecuniary benefits accruable over the period. Failure to submit an explanation or response by the stipulated date, the club will proceed to decide without further reference to you,” the letter reads in part.
While the players' response is individual several members of the playing unit may be suspended for their part in the strike.
The Kenyan champions were set to travel to Enugu Nigeria for the Invitational Coal City tournament on Wednesday, but the trip was cancelled unceremoniously on Tuesday night.
Reports from the Green Army fold say all striking players save for the new faces who signed this season, are answering the cause letter.
On day two after the club cancelled the trip the playing unit did not return to training at Mpesa Foundation in Thika, with silence dominating their WhatsApp group.
New KO’gallo head coach Leonardo Neiva will be hoping the standoff ends soon and training resumes, with South Sudan’s Al Merrreikh, awaiting in the CAF Champions League on August 23 in Juba.