South Sudan international striker Tito Okello has given Kenyan champi0ns Gor Mahia an ultimatum to either settle all his pending dues at once or terminate his contract altogether.
The fleet-footed forward has stamped authority at K’Ogalo since his arrival last July, having already netted a total of nine goals including five in the league and four in cup matches.
Despite the huge success, Okello has experienced a rough patch during his short stint with the reigning Kenyan champions and now believes it's high time he put all his woes to rest.
“The club is in a deep mess and I’m planning to quit. I’m a foreigner and I can't survive outside my home country without a salary. I have to settle bills and I have a family to take care of," Okello said.
“I’m demanding some good money and I think I might as well be playing my last games here.”
Prodded to reveal the amount he was demanding from the Kenyan giants, Okello chose to remain cagey with details.
“Just know it's much. At times they give half the pay and at times nothing at all. They either pay or we part ways," he insisted. "All efforts to reach the relevant office for an amicable solution have proven fruitless."
“Since the league resumed, I have been on the same case but it has been given deaf ears. If push comes to shove then I’d rather go back home and just make it clear to them I’m jobless instead of staying in Kenya and giving them false hopes,” said an exasperated Okello.
Okello who has a year left on his contract said the dire situation he has found himself in might force him to consider studying some offers already placed on the negotiation table by local and foreign clubs.
“I’ve been approached by quite a number of clubs which I won't mention,” he said.
While conceding the club is currently grappling with financial constraints, treasurer Dolphine Odhiambo said they had nonetheless gained some traction in settling dues owed to players after pocketing Sh2m from shirt sponsors Betsafe.
“We used the amount to settle dues including the pending salaries owed to players and the technical staff,” said Odhiambo.
“The players received half of their monthly salaries while members of the technical bench received a quarter of the amount owed to them,” she added.
Meanwhile, Gor have completed the signing of Malian keeper, Adama Keita to bolster the department even as it became clear that first choice custodian Gad Mathews was not keen on linking up with the squad.
Mathews stopped attending training sessions after alleging he had gone for five months without pay and was yet to receive his sign-on fee amounting to half a million shillings.
