Kenyan Premier League champions, Gor Mahia have refuted claims that they declined to release players for national duty.
Harambee Stars’ head coach Benni McCarthy had earlier accused the club of prioritising their league commitments over national duty.
McCarthy’s assertions followed Harambee Stars’ lacklustre showings in the pivotal World Cup qualifying matches against Gabon and Gambia in the preceding week.
McCarthy voiced his frustration after a heart-wrenching 2-1 loss to Gabon at Nyayo Stadium dampened Kenya’s remote aspirations for a maiden World Cup appearance.
He claimed the national team’s preparations were hampered by the absence of key players from Gor Mahia and Tusker FC.
The clubs had requested to utilise their players in domestic league matches before allowing them to join the national team.
Gor Mahia played Bandari FC while Tusker FC were up against Posta Rangers during the Fifa window.
“When I got here, I asked for three days to assess some of the best players in the Kenyan league. The players I chose were those that were available at the time,” McCarthy said.
“We granted Gor Mahia and Tusker permission to retain their players. Unfortunately, I am unable to choose players that I have not seen play or know anything about, which is why none of them made the squad.”
His frustration stems from the fact that he was unable to select players he had not observed in a competitive context, limiting his ability to build a robust national team.
In response to McCarthy’s allegations, Raymond Oruo, the CEO of Gor Mahia, defended the club’s actions, emphasising compliance with established protocols regarding player release for international duty.
“I saw what the Harambee Stars head coach said following the game against Gabon. Both FKF and the coach are fully aware of the rules of players’ release for international duty.”
Oruo further clarified that Gor Mahia had made their players available immediately after their match against Bandari, suggesting that McCarthy’s decision to exclude them from the national squad was based on prior assessments rather than the players’ unavailability.
“If the coach decided they were surplus to his requirements, then he should just say so, as he had the chance to watch them in a competitive league match.”
McCarthy said the controversy highlights the broader issues of communication and collaboration between clubs and national teams.
“Effective dialogue and mutual understanding are essential for navigating the complexities of player availability,” he said.
“Clubs and national teams must work
collaboratively to ensure that both domestic and international aspirations are met.”
