By Charles Thuku
SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia have quashed reports that the team’s celebrated striker Dennis Oliech has temporarily been tasked with the deputy coaching duties following the unavailability of head coach Hassan Oktay.
The team’s Chief Executive Officer Lordvick Aduda termed the reports as untrue and baseless even as he took issue with a an online publication for being behind the misleading information.
“The reports that are contained in the portal purporting that Oliech has been given the onus of deputy coach should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Oliech has no semblance of a trainer and remains a Gor player contrary to what appeared in the story,” said Aduda.
Aduda said Oliech has had his bandage on his hand recovered after sustaining an injury in a league match last season and is doing light training with the team, ready to resume action once he fully recuperates.
The reports relating to Oliech comes in the wake of Oktay’s departure to his native Turkey on Tuesday to attend to urgent domestic matters, leaving his deputy Patrick Odhiambo to train Gor.
Commenting on the issue of Oktay, Aduda said the club’s executive gave the tactician consent to go home where his parents and sister are ailing, adding that they expect him to return to his duties at Gor after sorting out those problems.
“Oktay’s parents are suffering from cancer while his sister is battling depression and this are predicaments Gor’s executive had known when we gave him the coaching job. Furthermore, Oktay’s two-year contract with the club has yet to lapse and the allegations that he has left the club do not hold water,” explained Aduda.
The online portal had reported that Oktay’s future in the club was in doubt especially after the coach had allegedly been quoted saying that he was mulling the idea of petitioning the club’s executive to call it quits if the family problems persist.
“I’m not running away, no, we have bought good players this transfer window and I know the team will perform very well. The team will win the league and I know they will perform well in the CAF Champions League,” the portal quoted Oktay on Monday.
Gor are gearing up for the Africa Champions League preliminary clash against Aigles Noires of Burundi before embarking on their title defence next month.
