This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
On the eve of the transfer window closure in Kenya, Gor Mahia, the reigning Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions, made two significant moves. The club announced the release of Burundi international Francis Mustapha, while welcoming Kennedy Otieno from Western Stima.
According to a source privy to the discussions, Gor Mahia had to release Mustapha to abide by the KPL foreign players number rule. The source explained, 'One of the foreign players had to be axed, and after considerations it was Mustapha who had to leave. The foreign quota demands a club can only have a maximum of foreign players, thus it was expected one of the foreign ones in last season's squad was to be released.'
Mustapha scored only three goals for Gor in the 2018/2019 season, mostly used as a substitute since his arrival in June 2018 from Rwanda's Kiyovu. His departure is part of a larger shake-up at the club, with several players, including Jaques Tuyisenge, Erissa Ssekisambu, Francis Kahata, Pascal Ogweno, Cercidy Okeyo, Harun Shakava, and Shaban Odhoji, exiting earlier.
Gor Mahia will be looking to defend their KPL title for the fourth time in a row, despite the major departures, including assistant coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno, and unanswered questions lingering over the future of head coach Hassan Oktay, who is on compassionate vacation.
