Gor Mahia in dilemma over the signing of two West African players
Gor Mahia’s move to acquire Ghanian striker Zakari Taofiq has complicated the club’s chances of also securing the services of another West African forward Traore Koh.
It is widely believed that a section of Gor Mahia officials and Koh’s representatives agreed on a year-long renewable deal early this month with only a few details – including financial guarantees – standing in the way of the player to put pen to paper.
The deal is estimated to be worth $35,000 (Sh 3.17 million) in sign on fees and a monthly salary of about Sh 180,000 a month.
Instead, and in what is seen as competing interests between the club’s administration, the club has instead opted to secure the services of the Ghanian forward whom “nobody has ever watched play”.
“That Ghanaian was signed with express blessings and authority of the club’s hierarchy, nobody could dare say no. We just hope this is not another case similar to that of (Brazilian midfielder) Giovanni Rodriguez,” a club official told Nairobi News.
OVERWEIGHT AND UNFIT
Rodriguez was “signed” by Gor Mahia in early 2013, only for the player to turn up overweight and unfit during his first training session during the reign of then coach Zdravko Logarusic, much to the embarrassment of the club officials and fans.
In the meantime, Nairobi News has learnt that a few of the club officials had elected to hand Koh the opportunity to replace departed Ugandan forward Dan Sserunkuma.
Koh boasts an impressive CV, having successfully come amongst the top on the scoring charts in the French second division, plus the Malaysian and Tunisia leagues.
In his uploaded seven and a half minute long video on YouTube, Koh, a short stocky forward in the mound of Swansea striker Wilfred Boni, is seen scoring goals in matches.
But with Zakari in the picture, Gor Mahia seem to have run out of space considering the quota of foreigners as stipulated by the league rules.