This archive report was first published on 23 May 2020.
As Kenya battles the coronavirus pandemic, Gor Mahia players have gone without pay for several months, sparking a heated debate over who is responsible for the delay in salary payments.
Coach Steven Polack has come under fire from some players who accuse him of being quiet as they fight for their wages from the club leadership.
However, Polack insists he should not be blamed for the delays, pointing out that he does not pay the players' salaries and that the club's management is responsible for communication breakdowns.
"Those who are saying I am not concerned are dishonest. I have been on the management's neck fighting for my players," Polack said in a statement.
Polack acknowledged that the financial cash crunch has hit not only Gor Mahia but also their arch-rivals AFC Leopards and other Kenyan Premier League clubs, whose players have gone without pay due to lack of sponsorship following the exit of prime sponsors SportPesa in August last year.
"People are living in hard times with rent arrears and in our situation things are even tougher because of lack of sponsorship. My silence on my players suffering doesn't mean I don't fight for them," Polack added.
