• Players downed their tools on Tuesday in protest for their unpaid salaries and allowances.
•The unit has not received their February dues and a small chunk of the preceding month which forced them to desert the Goan Institute grounds, where the club trains on Tuesday.
Trouble is brewing at Mathare United ahead of their weekend’s league match away to Kakamega Homeboyz as the players downed their tools on Tuesday in protest for their unpaid salaries and allowances.
The playing unit gave the daily training drills a wide berth to signal their grievances to the management of the club over their unpaid February salary and allowances as well as the non remittance of their 40 percent of the January salary.
According to a senior player, who sought anonymity, the unit has not received their February dues and a small chunk of the preceding month which forced them to desert the Goan Institute grounds, where the club trains on Tuesday. “We last trained on Monday but no one reported on the following day, Wednesday and yesterday.
We haven’t been paid our February salary and allowances yet we are approaching April. The club has also not wired 40 percent of our January dues. We are supposed to play Homeboyz this weekend in Kakamega but we are yet to hear from the office.”
However, the club’s chief executive officer Jecton Obure, who had quashed a reported go slow last month, declined to comment on the current development. Last month, the club endured a five-month win-less streak which was attributed to unpaid salaries and allowances but Obure dismissed the reports as rumours and even disclosed of their advanced negotiations with another shirt sponsor who would complement Odibets.
“I do not want to talk about players downing tools or unpaid dues just proceed and publish what your source says.” The player further opened up on the reoccurring but secretly concealed salary delays at the club which enjoys multiple sponsorship from betting firm Odibets and Ng’ombe.
He said they had not been receiving their full salaries on time since January last year hence have had to stage go slows from time to time to voice their concerns. “We have had serious problems since last year January as we have not been receiving our full salaries on time. They pay us on bits which personally I feel it’s unfair and inconveniences my plans.”
The player further hinted of exiting the club should a deal pop up in the ongoing transfer window but ruled out extending his services with the club at the end of the current season if his intentions to secure greener pastures does not materialise.
“ I am forcing my way out for life is increasingly becoming unbearable here. If I will get a better offer in the ongoing window, I will leave and if I fail, then I will leave at the end of the season as a free agent.”