Oktay officially resigns as Gor Mahia coach

Turkish-Cypriot coach Hassan Oktay has officially parted ways with glamour club Gor Mahia barely a week after he travelled to his native country Turkey to take care of his ailing parents and other pressing family matters.

According to the club’s official website, Oktay, who had initially asked for six days off, has asked the club to release him from contractual duties that bound him to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions until end of next year citing pressure from family challenges.

“Kindly accept my resignation as Gor Mahia FC head coach effective today, the sixth day of August 2019. As you are aware, the decision has been forced on me by the personal challenges I am facing here in Europe.

I wish to thank you and the entire club, including the fans for the opportunity you accorded me to manage this great club. I also wish you guys all the best in your forthcoming assignments,” Oktay wrote to club chairman Ambrose Rachier

Following the development, assistant coach Patrick Odhiambo who is barely two months old in the job, is poised to take charge on interim basis.

Oktay was appointed head coach in December 2018 to succeed Dylan Kerr, who had also resigned from his position after only one season.

At the helm of the club, Oktay, 46, helped the Kenyan giants reach their first ever quarter-finals of the Caf Confederation Cup while at the same time clinching the unprecedented 18^th KPL title in his first season.

This comes as Gor prepares to kickoff CAF Champions League 2019/2020 season on Sunday against Burundi’s Aigle Noir.