Gor Mahia technical bench decries hooliganism resurge

 Gor Mahia Team Manager Victor Nyaoro condemned the resurging hooliganism witnessed in recent days by a section of fans demanding results from the record champions.

According to Nyaoro, it is frustrating for a coach who has been with the team for barely six months and the technical bench to be accosted by club fans, saying hooliganism cannot solve the situation at the club.

“It is quite disturbing to see what some fans are doing.

“Accosting the head coach will not solve our problems. We still have a long way to go, and most likely, things will get back to order soon,’’ he said.

Nyaoro called on the fans to explore alternative methods of solving disputes, saying violence will add insult to injury for the wounded defending champions.

A section of the club’s fans has resorted to attacking players and the technical bench if the result from any game is not a win.

On Monday last week, team captain Philemon Otieno was cornered and insulted after Gor lost to Nairobi City Stars.

 Barely a week later, the record champions were held to a two-all draw by Murangá Seal, a result that did not go well, irate fans attacked the head coach and a section of the technical bench members.

“How can you insult a coach just because a team has drawn?

“Our club has done away with hooliganism, and trying to bring it back is unacceptable.” He added.

Nyaoro has pleaded with their fans to observe diligence and give the Brazilian Coach Martins Neiva time to put things in order.

 The tough-talking team manager says they have deployed other mechanisms to try to establish the root cause of the problem, including having an amicable talk with the players to identify any intrigues that may have led to the poor outcomes in the past.

“Even during the time of Jonathan McKinstry as the head coach, we started the league with only seventeen players, and we ended up being the champions,’’ added Nyaoro.

The team manager says Gor risked being banned from using Kenyatta Stadium as their home ground if such unsporting behaviors persist.

 In 2014, Gor Mahia was banned from using Kenyatta stadium in Machakos after a section of fans destroyed property, including personal vehicles, at the stadium after losing 2-3 to Sofapaka in a League match.

In case such hooliganism results in the destruction of property, the Federation can sanction KÓgalo, which is not the first time they can be sanctioned.

Leonardo Neiva and a number of the technical bench crew were whisked to safety by club stewards and the security operators even as plastic seats kept flying, targeting the Brazilian tactician.

 It forced the police officers manning the game to lob tear gas canisters in the air to disperse the rowdy fans.

Nyaoro feels it is high time fans learned that any game of football can attract three different results: a win, a draw, or a loss.