The return of Dennis Oliech to active football after signing for Gor Mahia early this year was met with a lot of jubilation. But a few months down the line rumors are rife that he could be a bad influence within the K’Ogalo family.
According to reports, there is a growing frustration within Gor Mahia management and even the technical bench over the player’s attitude and apparent lack of commitment to the club.
Just before their last CAF Confederation Cup home tie against NA Hussein Dey, Oliech staged a go slow and totally refused to honor the game over his then pending sign on fee.
This despite the fact that his salary was up-to date and he had pocketed Ksh 100k bonus, money he didn’t deserve because he was not part of the squad which propelled Gor Mahia to the group stage of the Confederation Cup.
He eventually returned to training with his agent and brother Ken Oliech intimating that his client could have picked wrong advice from a section of the Gor Mahia management.
When the team travelled to Tanzania for the annual SportPesa Cup, Oliech refused to share a room with his teammates when others slept in twos, according to a close source.
“He insisted that he must sleep alone and if the organizers were not willing to grant his wish he was ready to pay for his own accommodation,” the source revealed.
When the team played against Kakamega Homeboyz on Thursday in Machakos, Oliech was a no show, but he was not alone, Charles Momanyi, Kenneth Muguna, Philemon Otieno were also absent, however, coach Hassan Oktay explained that the three are injured.
Oliech, Pascal Ogweno, Francis Kahata and Ugandan Shafick Batambuze were reportedly unreachable with only four players making the bench on that evening.
Batambuze has since clarified that he was sick and informed the team manager in time. A text message he sent to the team manager, Jolawi Obondo, is in our possession.
The team failed to train on Wednesday a day after they returned from Alexandria, Egypt where they lost 4-0 to Zamalek SC on Sunday. The failure to show up for training at Parklands Sports Club was attributed to a go slow over nonpayment.
Gor Mahia players are yet to be paid their February salary but according to a source within the club they will be paid on Friday before they head to camp for the Sunday’s do or die clash against Petro Atletico of Angola.
The no show by some key figures in the game against Homeboyz led by Oliech and Kahata led to more questions than answers with some sources pointing to incitement from the two players.
Oliech is yet to return to his vintage best and has been sparingly used in games, while Kahata has been a cog in K’Ogalo’s midfield. Efforts to reach the two for comment have been futile.