Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr has vowed to make sure that the license for defender Godfrey Walusumbi’s agent is revoked.
The Briton coach has for the first time gave his side of the story that saw the Ugandan left back sneak out for South Africa, where he is finalizing a transfer deal with Kaizer Chiefs.
Kerr said Walusimbi and his agent acted wrongly by sneaking out of the country and that action should be taken against them. “Walusimbi, his agent and Kaizer Chiefs will all be held accountable for their actions which was illegal and very unprofessional,” Kerr told a local daily in an interview.
“My chairman and CEO are not to blame nor myself because Walusimbi acted immorally probably on advice of his agent, who I will personally act on and make sure that his license is revoked. Both Walusimbi and his agent have let my team and staff down not once but twice now because they did the same when we played against Esperance and we lost the match because he was not available.”
Kerr also said it was the right of fans to question the player’s absence. “The fans are right to point fingers as any football fan has an opinion but the fact remains Walusimbi is contracted to Gor Mahia.
“His agent acted for financial greed and Kaizer Chiefs think they can get him for pennies but worst of all acted illegally against Caf and Fifa rules. Rule 18 clearly states that a club intending to conclude with a professional player must inform the players club in writing before entering into negotiations.“Walusimbi is contracted to Gor Mahia until 2020 and Chiefs have not written.”
Chiefs have Denied Allegations
Kaizer Chiefs coach Bobby Motaung said the Amakhosi were following protocol in trying to sign Walusimbi.
“He is here at the village (club headquarters), and we are going about things the right way. We will make further announcements when we have agreed a deal with his club. “But the player has not gone missing from his club. Maybe there was some confusion as the coach (Dylan Kerr) obviously wants to keep the player,” Motaung explained.
Gor Edges Closer to Another Title
But the absence of Walusimbi has not prevented Gor Mahia from matching to a record 17th KPL title. The team overcame Kakamega Homeboyz 3-1 in Kisumu on Monday to pull 14 points clear.
Innocent Wafula and Burundian forward Francis Mustapha put Gor in the driving seat with goals in the 30th and 34th minute as the champions went into the break with a healthy lead.
Homeboyz, however, ensured the game had a nervy ending as they halved the deficit with a free kick from Baron Oketch that proved too much for Shaban Odhonji 20 minutes from time.
Substitute Kevin Omondi, however, made sure the runaway league leaders took all three points with a tidy finish on the stroke of full-time. K’Ogalo now have 62 points from 25 matches—14 more than second placed Bandari.
Dylan Kerr’s men now need only three more wins from their remaining nine matches to retain their trophy. The victory was not the only bright spot for K’Ogalo as their Burundian right back Karim Nizigiyimana came through unscathed in his first start for the club in almost a year after recovering from an Achilles injury.