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Despite making 13 new signings ahead of the new season, restive Gor Mahia fans are not amused.
The team which travelled to Mombasa for a pre-season friendly match, which they lost 2-0 to Bandari, had to bear the brunt of angry fans, something captain Jerim Onyango did not take lightly.
An ugly face-off ensued at the end of the match when irate fans confronted the team's captain and goalkeeper Jerim Onyango (Jerry) and accused him of conceding easy goals. However, Gor Mahia won their next match 2-1 against a Mombasa combined side.
It is now alleged by some of the fans on Gor Mahia's Facebook group that Jerry went verbal and insulted the fans.
But Gor Mahia Team Manager, Jolawi Obondo, who was present during the match, denied claims that Jerry insulted anyone. Obondo said that after conceding two goals against Bandari, a section of the fans attacked the technical bench demanding to know why Jerry, and not substitute goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch (one of the new signings), was fielded.
"They were forcing us to drop Jerry as number one. Does it mean that since we have signed a goalkeeper, Jerry should not play, or even practice? It was a friendly, we wanted to establish the strengths of all players," Obondo told The Nairobian.
He added that later on, as they were enjoying refreshments at a local restaurant, a crowd of fans came in wailing like someone was dead.
"They were 'mourning' Jerry, who was there with us. Jerry and all the players naturally got worked up. We had to restrain them. The players could not understand why they were singling Jerry out. They were shouting, but Jerry did not abuse anyone," said the team manager.
"I really condemn that. Let us not start on a bad note. We have 13 new players and we have to create harmony. Fans should let us do that," Obondo pleaded.
Sentiments on the team's Facebook page however claimed Jerry insulted fans in anger, while others condemned the unruly fans.
Our efforts to get comments from Jerry were not successful.
