NAIROBI, Kenya, June 24 –Gor Mahia attacking midfielder Patrick Oboya has been cleared by FIFA to play after the club successfully applied for an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from his previous Vietnam club.
The champions were forced to withdraw Oboya late April when the world football governing body threatened to sanction the club over irregular signing of the player without ITC.
Club Secretary General Chris Omondi, confirmed to Capital Sport on Tuesday, Oboya will be available for selection when the KPL second leg kicks-off this weekend since they are waiting for the arrival of the document by the end of the week.
“Oboya has been cleared to play and will be available for selection when we play our next fixture against Thika United on Sunday.
“We were forced to apply for a fresh ITC from Vietnam which is the last club he played for after the player presented to us the one from his former Slovakian club but we have sorted that out and we are only waiting for the document in the course of the week which will be a major boost to the team,” Omondi stated.
Gor will not release Kevin Omondi.
The Secretary General however, said they will not release their creative midfielder Kevin Omondi to join his new South African outfit Moroka Swallows unless they are involved in the deal.
The midfielder who was on loan from Fisa Academy, is reportedly to have signed a two year deal with the PSL side and is expected to arrive in the team next week but that will not happen until the controversy surrounding his move is settled.
“We have received a letter from Fisa demanding us to release the player but we have told them we have to agree on terms first. We have developed the player since he came at the club as a minor and now we have given him a platform.
“As far as we are concerned we released him to go for trials in South Africa some times back at Ajax Cape Town FC but now we are told he has completed a deal with Moroka Swallows, that’s not acceptable since we signed a loan agreement with Fisa so we have a right to make decisions on the player,” the club’s spokesman declared.
Omondi’s departure comes after the champions lost two key players, holding midfielder Anthony Akumu on loan to Sudanese side Khartoum National FC and winger Timonah Wanyonyi to their bitter rivals AFC Leopards.
Talisman and their top scorer with six goals Dan Sserunkuma is set to depart the country over the weekend to attend trials with Danish 1st Division side HB Koge.
“He has the blessings of the club and we wish him all the best, he deserves to play professional since he is a top striker. We are still searching for two players but if we don’t get them, well and good there is nothing to worry since we have depth in squad who can equally do the job,” Omondi concluded.
Gor are perched at the summit of the log on 30 points, three ahead of Top 8 champions Tusker FC who have a game at hand against bottom placed Top Fry Nakuru.
