Immediate former Gor Mahia coach Portuguese Manuel Carlos Vaz Pinto has denied abandoning K’Ogalo at their point of need.
Pinto who recently helped Gor to secure a spot in the high voltage CAF Confederation games after putting AFC Leopard’s to the sword downed the tools.
It is time
“I am leaving with a heavy heart. Gor Mahia was my second family and we had built a strong bond with the players and the fans. But due to personal reasons, which President Ambrose Rachier respected for a long time, it is time to end my connection to Gor Mahia FC,” Pinto said in an emotional letter to the club after quitting.
“I would have loved to stay and build a strong team that would have challenged not only for local glory but continental titles too.”
“When I was faced with the challenge of managing Gor Mahia FC, a club of such magnitude and importance, I did not hesitate to come to Kenya.” Pinto said.
“When I arrived, six months ago, the team was in a difficult situation. Six months have passed, with hard work and uncertainty, due to the pandemic and all the difficulties brought along by such circumstances. With the commitment of all players, we were driven to win with confidence and hard work despite all the concerns. All this resulted in the conquest of the FKF Cup, and we wished we had won more times.”
“We had a great match in Zambia (against Napsa Stars) and we surely deserved more wins in the African competitions.”
“Because we won the FKF Cup, we gained the right to be there again, next year.
Final message
“Presently, we are all aware that we have made a great job, consistent with the dimension of this enormous club. I will take with me your kindness and I promise to come back to Kenya, where I felt so welcome during all these months
“I would like to leave a final message to the Gor Mahia FC fans: keep supporting this club, so that they can go on winning titles and claim the greatest sport symbol of the country! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!”
Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier announced Pinto’s departure in a statement.
Rachier said: “We wish to officially announce the departure of Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto who until yesterday (Friday) was our Head Coach.
“The Club has reached an early contract termination agreement with the Coach arising from his request occasioned by pressing family matters which requires that he gets back to Portugal. In this regard he requested the executive committee to allow him terminate the contract and move back to his family.
“We wish him well and we thank him for his dedicated service and hard work that saw to him leading the team to emerge the Champions of the Betway Cup as well as guiding the team to its current position in the league, considering that when he joined in January when the club was placed at the lower end of the league table.”
Sammy Omollo
“I therefore on my own behalf, the club executive, the Players and the remaining members of the Technical Bench, take this opportunity to wish him well,” said Rachier who also announced that Assistant coach Sammy Omollo will be in charge of the team.
K’Ogalo has indeed suffered a blow in their quest for the FKF-Premier League title.