Want me to stay? Offer a better contract, free-agent Kahata tells Gor

Creative midfielder Francis Kahata has told his club Gor Mahia to offer him a new contract which matches the offers he claims to have received from other clubs if they want to retain him.

Kahata who helped the club  bag an 18th Kenyan Premier League title, with the coronation taking place last Saturday at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, has been in fine form  this season, drawing admirers from several clubs among them USM of Algeria.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Kahata claimed that there are offers for him from clubs in Africa and Europe.

“I love Gor Mahia but as you know football is like a business; they need to do something if they want me to stay next season,” he said. “My contract ends in June and thus if Gor want me to stay then they should offer me a better contract which matches what other competitors want to give me.”

“I have received a lot of offers with Tanzania’s Simba SC among those keen on securing my services, I can’t really reveal other teams but I can confidently say they have contacted me and they want to offer crazy deal. From next month I will be a free agent meaning I can sign with any team I feel like.”

Gor Mahia head coach Hassan Oktay has in the meantime been loud in his praise of Kahata saying he should be retained at the club.

“Kahata is the best creative midfielder in the country and that is without a doubt. I understand many clubs are salivating for his services, some of them have contacted me personally but again I will fight for a new contract for him to stay at Gor,”said Oktay.

“I will convince the club top management to keep him in the team; I don’t see myself working without him. He is a good player.”

According to team manager Jolawi Obondo, apart from Kahata, other players who may leave the club are Rwandese striker Jacques Tuyisenge, skipper Harun Shakava and utility man Philemon Otieno .

“Right now we know some of our good players are going to leave, I have in mind four of them, Tuyisenge, Kahata, Shakava and Philemon but we will not take chances, we have to find replacements immediately and that is the good thing with the Rachier led office.

“We always sit down and find a better plan of replacing them so that we do well, not in the local league alone but also in the CAF competitions,” explained Obondo.

Gor will take on Mathare United in their last match of the season on Wednesday aiming to end their campaign on 74 points.