The ongoing training boycott by Gor Mahia players has taken a dramatic turn as the club management issued show-cause letters to all players, excluding the new recruits, on Tuesday afternoon. The players have been boycotting training for three days, demanding a share of the Ksh 5 million prize money awarded to the club by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for winning the league. However, the club maintains that the money is required for other logistical expenses and that there is no contractual obligation to distribute it to the players.
The boycott began on Saturday and persisted through Monday and Tuesday, disrupting the team’s preparations. The players traveled to their training ground at M-Pesa Grounds in Thika but refused to disembark from the bus, resulting in no training sessions taking place. This act of defiance has caused significant concern among the club’s management.
On Monday night, a club official issued a stern warning about the consequences of the players’ actions, indicating that their demands were unreasonable. “We do not understand where this notion that players have to get a share of the prize money comes from. This is the club’s revenue. Their salaries and allowances are up-to-date, and we don’t know why they would want to get every penny that comes to the club. We have other expenses to pay for, and for us, this is a case of gross misconduct and insubordination,” the official stated.
The situation escalated further on Tuesday when the team failed to travel to Nigeria for the Coal City Tournament in Enugu due to their ongoing protest. In response, the club sent letters to the players demanding that they justify why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for absconding from duty. The players have until Friday to respond to these letters, creating a sense of urgency and concern among them.
The issuance of show-cause letters has led to panic among the players. Some have already begun reaching out privately to club officials, indicating their willingness to resume training by Friday. The letters warn that failure to respond or return to training could result in salary and allowance cuts. The club’s letter to the players emphasized the importance of adhering to club rules and maintaining discipline.
“Noted under the terms of your contract with the club, you are under the obligation to abide by the club rules and regulations, including taking and adhering to instructions from the team manager in matters relating to administrative issues. You are equally under the obligation to maintain a high level of discipline both on and off the pitch. In this respect, you are in violation of the club’s values, hence a fundamental breach of your contract with the club,” the letter reads.
Former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani voiced his disapproval of the players’ demands, asserting that the prize money is the club’s revenue. “A club hires you and pays you a monthly salary, which is rightfully in your contract. The club pays you win bonuses and draw bonuses throughout the season, and it’s in your contract. The club pays for your travel and accommodation expenses throughout the season. The club pays for your medical expenses anytime you get sick or injured, and it’s stipulated in your contract,” Ambani explained. He stressed that players should negotiate for prize money clauses in their contracts if they wish to receive a share.
Ambani’s perspective underscores a broader issue within football contracts and player management. The need for clear and transparent communication between players and management is crucial to avoid such conflicts. Ambani’s call for players to include specific clauses about prize money in their contracts highlights the importance of contract negotiations and understanding one’s contractual rights and obligations.
As the deadline approaches, the football community keenly awaits to see how many players will return to training and how this dispute will ultimately be resolved. The outcome of this standoff will significantly impact Gor Mahia’s preparations and performance in the upcoming season. The situation highlights the complex dynamics between club management and players, emphasizing the need for mutual understanding and adherence to contractual agreements to ensure smooth operations and success on the field.
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