Angry Gor Mahia fans accosted the technical bench and playing unit to demand explanations for their poor showing following a 2-1 defeat to Nairobi City Stars on Monday 28th October at the Machakos Stadium.
In that game, Gor Mahia had taken the lead before halftime, but the tide changed in the second half as City Stars fought back to snatch the win and condemn Gor Mahia to their first defeat of the season.
Kogalo fans, commonly known as the ‘Green Army’, had travelled to Machakos in good numbers on a weekday to cheer the team, but were left disappointed at what they watched.
Gor Mahia coach Leonardo Leiva needed stewards and police escort to get away from the fans who were baying for his blood. He was quickly rushed to the dressing room to save him from the mob.
The fans claimed that they were not impressed by the coach’s style of play since he took over, and that loss to City Stars was a result of the coach’s tactical blunders.
The players were also told to quit the club if they do now want to fight for the badge. Fans were particularly enraged that the players did now show any fight against a struggling City Stars side even after the opponents were reduced to 10 men late in the game. “They have no urgency, no discipline”, said one angry fan.
Gor Mahia captain Philemon Otieno had to come out and meet the fans to try and calm them down. He listened to their grievances and tried to assure them that the players and technical bench were doing their best.
“We had many players unavailable for selection, but I cannot use that as an excuse. What I want to say is that for today, forgive us. We have asked for forgiveness. It is our first loss of the season, but we are sorry,” said Otieno.
Gor Mahia’s next fixture is a home game against Murang’a Seals on Saturday 2nd November, and it goes without saying that this is a must-win in order to cool the wrath of the fans.