Gor issue FIFA threat as Tirana hovers over its stars

Gor Mahia FC have laid bare their intentions to report FK Tirana to world governing body FIFA if the Albanian second-tier side does not stop ‘illegally’ approaching the club’s players.

Reports indicate Jose Marcelo Ferreira, Gor’s immediate former coach now at Tirana, is orchestrating a sensational swoop for Kenneth Muguna, Godfrey Walusimbi, Oliver Maloba, Jacques Tuyisenge and Musa Mohammed.

The Brazilian tactician who ditched the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants barely two months ago is keen to reunite with the five at his new club but K’Ogalo Assistant Secretary General Ronald Ngala is adamant the attempt will be unsuccessful.

Muguna, the reigning KPL Most Valuable Player of the Year, has already handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force his way out and has attracted criticism from Ngala who described the move ‘ill advised and unfortunate’.

“That will not be possible! Not Muguna, not Oliver or any other player linked with moving to Albania will do so at this time of the season. The whole thing shows lack of respect for Gor. None of the said player has been approached using the right channels and if it continues this way we will take the matter to FIFA,” a charged Ngala told Citizen Digital.

He accused an intermediary using his links with the players to lure them to Europe without considering the interests of the parent club.

“All these players have contracts to honor. It is not possible an agent just calls players on phone and the next thing you are brought is a letter by a player requesting release.

“We know the agent who brought Ze Maria here is behind all this but you can take it to the bank, it is not possible,” Ngala added.

Citizen Digital has learnt Hector Como, the current Tirana CEO who is currently in Nairobi, is the man working with Ze Maria to net his targets.

Como has previously worked with AFC Leopards in 2011, in the capacity of Technical Director.

– Muguna a gem in the eye of Ze-

Gor Mahia FC Brazillian coach Marcelo ‘Ze Maria’ Ferreira confers with his assistant Tom Ogweno during their KPL clash against Ushuru FC in July. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

With the transfer of all the four targets at once proving difficult for Tirana to achieve, Ze Maria is hell bent to rope in Muguna, a player he signed from KPL side Western Stima at the end of 2016 season and the gem of his eye.

Muguna’s quagmire in the whole deal is the unwillingness of K’Ogalo to sell him before the end of the season, while Tirana wants him immediately.

The club, Albania’s most successful club having won 50 recognized major domestic trophies, is desperate to return to the topflight. With Ze given the target among those he must achieve, he apparently plans a major shopping spree up his sleeves and has identified the five as those that will help guide the club back to the top division.

A source intimate to Citizen Digital that Gor wants 30,000 USD (approx. KSh3m) to release the attacking midfielder, with a sell on clause of 30 percent. However, this can only be done in January.

If Muguna goes ahead and ditches Gor against their consent, he attracts a four months ban from FIFA and two more if the matter aggravates.

Article 17 (1) of FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players, states the consequences of terminating a contract without a just cause.

“These criteria shall include, in particular, the remuneration and other benefits due to the player under the existing contract and/ or the new contract, the timing remaining on the existing contract up to a maximum of five years, the fees and expences paid or incurred by the former club (amortised over the term of the contract) and whether the contractual breach fall within a protected period.

The protected period means any time outside the transfer window of the local Football Association. In the case of Kenya, the transfer period lapsed on June 31.

“In addition to the obligation to pay compensation, sporting sanctions shall be imposed on any player found to be in breach of contract during the protected period. This sanction shall be a four-month restriction on playing in official matches. In the case of aggravating circumstances, the restriction shall last six months.

“In all cases, these sporting sanctions shall take effect from the start of the following season at the new club,” clause 7(3) of the FIFA regulations reads.

Thus, if Muguna forces a move within the current circumstances and Gor make good of their threat and report the activity then he risks being in the cold for up to six months.

-KPL regulations-

Amos Nondi (R) of Gor Mahia FC celebrate with teammate Meddie Kagere after scoring against Chemelil Sugar FC during their Sportpesa Premier League match at the Nyayo national stadium on September 10, 2016. Gor Mahia FC won 3-1. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com
Amos Nondi (R) of Gor Mahia FC celebrate with teammate Meddie Kagere after scoring against Chemelil Sugar FC during their Sportpesa Premier League match at the Nyayo national stadium on September 10, 2016. Gor Mahia FC won 3-1. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

According to KPL regulations, which Muguna is a signatory to, clause 7 (1) indicates that “the footballer acknowledges that payment of a transfer fee to the club by any club that may seek his services while in contract is an essential component of the financing of the club, is within the discretion of the club, and he undertakes to all do all the necessary to ensure the transfer fee is agreed and/or paid before he concludes a contract with any new club.”

Muguna and Maloba have played for Gor only for eight months in their three and four years respectively of their contracts. Tuyisenge and Walusimbi have over a year each to go, while Musa has until January 2018.

In the same breath, Ngala fears Muguna and co. may lose the concentration they need to give maximum output for the club.

“The young players we have in our local league must learn to be patient. They must consider what happens if they don’t impress in Europe.

“With double mindedness   it will be difficult for any player to deliver, but the coach knows better how to handle that,” he concluded.

A local intermediary privy to the Tirana-Gor transfer engagements opines any transfer contravening club’s rules could dent a player’s career.

“If a young player who has not cemented his place in the national team gets into bad books with the federation and parent club here in the name of moving to Europe, it is a career blow.

“Four months should not be a long wait for Muguna and a smooth transfer will be due. What if he goes to Tirana and Ze Maria is sacked before he can settle?”

Gor youngster Amos Nondi left for Georgian side Kolkheti Poti during the June transfer window, where he joined another former Gor player Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma in the Eastern Europe country.

The departures of more key players will mean Gor goes back to the drawing board on how to replace them, and become a real breeding ground for European clubs.

Tags:

Gor Mahia FC Kenneth Muguna FIFA Transfers KPL Kenyan Premier League football Gor Jacques Tuyisenge KF Tirana k'Ogalo Ze Maria Jose 'Ze Maria' Marcelo Ferreira

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