Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay was forced to use a depleted squad against Kakamega Homeboyz on Thursday.
This is after four players – Shafik Batambuze, Pascal Ogweno, Cercidy Okeyo, and Samuel Onyango – allegedly missed the rescheduled match that Gor Mahia won 2-1 to move joint second with Bandari at the 18-team table.
A source close to the team has revealed that only 14 players turned up for the match, a move that forced the coach to risk captain Harun Shakava.
“Batambuze and Ogweno switched off their phones and could not be reached, Okeyo said he was injured and did not turn up while Onyango (Samuel) said he was attending to family matters.
“The coach was left a frustrated man. He did not want to play Shakava because his plan was to use Ogweno. But now that Ogweno failed to show up for the match, the coach had no option but to play captain Shakava in that position.”
Gor Mahia will face Petro Atletico from Angola in a Group D match of the Caf Confederation Cup on Sunday. A win for K’Ogalo will guarantee them a spot in the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history.