With Gor Mahia setting up a fundraiser to ease the Covid-19 financial brunt, head coach Manuel Vaz Pinto has laid bare the situation at the cash strapped reigning champions.In a press statement released on Friday 25 June, K’Ogalo launched a fundraiser dubbed 2-Million Dollar Harambee appealing to the club members, friends, fans and sponsors to chip in and help the financially crippled club. Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Pinto revealed the club has gone for four months without their dues and revealed that the Western Stima loss came after the club failed to train.“We have had this problem since I came here, it has been around four months without payment. Our chairman said this in a press conference, I think people around football need to help each other,”🟢 | COACH SPEAKS Head coach Vaz Pinto’s word ahead of today’s league match against Bandari as from 3pm.🗣️ “We have to think about this match ( against Bandari ) like a final because we want be champions.”#Sirkal | #Betsafe pic.twitter.com/p6s2mKoGJs— ⚽️GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) June 30, 2021 “Last week we did not train, we cannot prepare for games if you do not train – but I need to say that the players are heroes because they have more games than other teams including the cup,” said Pinto.Gor Mahia saw their 13-match unbeaten run grind to a halt after going down to Western Stima last Saturday, losing grip on the title race.The match also meant that Gor Mahia will now have all their attention trained on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup in order to secure continental football with AFC Leopards standing in their wake.Gor Mahia players have downed their tools on a number of occasions this season citing lack of payment with the club unable to generate revenue from ticketing due to now fans being allowed into the stadium.🟢 | Coach Vaz Pinto to donate prize money he won to a charity home and share will all players… Read more 👇#Sirkal | #Betsafe https://t.co/UIZ6wrfeJu— ⚽️GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) June 29, 2021 The situation has however cut across all clubs in the league with Pinto lauding players and club officials for braving the dire financial constraints in the country. “I think all players, coaches, staff in Kenya are heroes because without payment and playing every three days is a tough task even for coaches and I’m not only speaking about me,” added Pinto. Pinto was selfless after winning the May Coach of the Month award as he distributed the Ksh.50,000 cash prize with the players and staff.
