Gor Mahia fans are left in distress following the resignation of their coach Hassan Oktay. The Turkish coach flew to his home country on Tuesday last week after the club granted him leave to attend to his personal issues.
Team Update.
Our Head Coach Hassan Oktay has been granted leave by the club to attend to family matters at home. He will be flying out tomorrow and will join the team once he's back.#Sportpesa #Sirkal pic.twitter.com/TUO8rirahs— Gor Mahia FC (@FCGorMahia) July 29, 2019
His remarks before departure sparked a lot of speculations regarding his return. During an interview with a local publication, Oktay said that he is not sure whether he will be back to continue with his assignment.
“Gor Mahia are a big club in East Africa and Kenya and one needs to put your brain and your all to handle such a great team,” Oktay said in an interview on Monday.
“But for now I am faced with a number of family issues which have affected me and I cannot concentrate. I am really struggling to concentrate and I must go home to sort out the issues first before I know my next move,” the Turkish coach added.
In just a span of one week, Oktay asked the club to release him from contractual duties that bound him to K’Ogalo until end of next year.
“Kindly accept my resignation as Gor Mahia FC head coach effective today, the sixth day of August 2019. As you are aware, the decision has been forced on me by the personal challenges I am facing here in Europe.
“I wish to thank you and the entire club, including the fans for the opportunity you accorded me to manage this great club. I also wish you guys all the best in your forthcoming assignments,” Oktay wrote to club chairman Ambrose Rachier.
Coach Oktay resigns. We thank him for his work and stay at Gor Mahia FC. We wish him well. #Sirkal pic.twitter.com/FAp1NgwGGG
— GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) August 6, 2019
This has left fans with a lot of questions regarding their club’s management. It is barely a year since K’Ogalo lost coach Dylan Kerr, who resigned from his role on 15 November 2018 in pursuit of greener pastures.
Gor fans, who were also left in dismay sought to understand what is actually going on at the club.
You guys should step up ur game. Learn to give bidding contracts. For how long will you be used to make CVs? Lol.i thought the chairman is a lawyer by profession! He should know these things
— Erick Gitobu (@Erigits_strong) August 6, 2019
Why has he resigned?
— Wilberforce Ondato (@WilberforceOnd1) August 6, 2019
Coach oktay didn’t just resign for those who don’t know, this innocent guy has been camping in chairman’s office on daily basis to seek his dues which the club owes him to no avail.
— Ayokidavid (@Ayokidavid1) August 7, 2019
Turnover ya coaches wa gormahia imeshinda gatecollection yake ya mechi zake msimu mzima ,structures muhimu si macoach wanakuja wakienda how do you ensure stability at the club with such
— African (@deputyboyfrien0) August 6, 2019
the mighty GOR lives on that’s another coach we have built for another club…..next please
— edwine ochieng (@mcwillyngoda) August 6, 2019
Do an audit as to why frank nuttall and now hassan oktay left the club…success to him and the team
— magero (@ras_evayo) August 6, 2019
How long has he been with us if you refresh my mind! #Sirkal
— Felix Obuya (@Felixobuya) August 6, 2019
Why all this okty ????
— MugambiNicholas (@MugambiNichol14) August 6, 2019
Why is this happening now when the league is about to kick off #Sirkal
— le princess (@Sokacenter) August 6, 2019
You keep changing coaches. What is wrong now?
— Arodi Ochieng’ Shadrack (@ShadrackArodi) August 6, 2019
Oktay replaced Dylan Kerr and went on to win a record 18th Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title with the side. He also helped the club to reach the quarter-finals of the Caf Confederation Cup for the first time in history.