Gor Mahia centre back Joshua Onyango has maintained his innocence in the wake of their controversial 2-1 defeat to Kakamega Homeboyz on Saturday at Bukhungu Stadium.The man-mountain defender who was making his debut for the club was adjudged to have hacked Congolese import Yema Mwamba in the area, a challenge that saw Homeboyz get a penalty that led to the equalizer. This is the penalty Homeboyz side was awarded against Gor Mahia yesterday in Kakamega. Watch it… and re-watch it then rewind to be sure where the foul was before the player dived into the box – outside or inside the box? Those are the referees we have in Kenya. pic.twitter.com/zHTaEf5OAe— Tony Anelka (@tonyanelka) December 19, 2021 Gor had taken the lead barely three minutes into the game through Peter Lwasa but Homeboyz levelled matters through George Odiwour from the spot in the 20th minute.An amateur video recorded during the game indicates that the challenge was made inches outside the box and the centre referee George Mwai was metres off the incident. According to Homeboyz team manager Boniface Imbenzi, the call did not sit well with Gor stewards who descended on him on his way to the dressing room after the halftime whistle and was unable to oversee the second half. The fourth official Wilson Otieno is said to have taken charge in the second half in which Homeboyz secured the three points after Mwamba netted the second goal and his fourth of the season. Onyango while accusing the referee of biasness maintained that he made contact with the ball while outside the box. “I stretched my right leg and hit the ball to safety. The incident happened outside the box and it is unfortunate the referee fell to the Homeboyz forward’s trick. Had I not touched the ball, it would not have changed direction,” he said.FULL TIME | Homeboyz 2 – 1 Gor Mahia (Peter Lwasa 3′)#Sirkal | #Betsafe— GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) December 18, 2021 Despite conceding the penalty on his debut, Onyango says the outcome of the match will not deter him from fighting for his place in the starting team.Coach Mark Harrison turned to the youngster who joined Gor before the season began from Kariobangi Sharks following the absence of Frank Odhiambo who says he missed the match due to family issues.”I had patiently waited for the chance to play my first game for the club and I am glad I made it. Although we did not get points in the match, I am happy to have won the confidence of the coach. I am hoping that I will stick in his first team going forward,” he added.
