The boy is a Leopard! Gor Mahia let Vincent Oburu be!

Since early this year, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia have been involved in an epic off the pitch tussle over rising star Vincent Oburu.

All assertions aside, this is a case of a Gor Mahia management that refuses to see the truth and is swimming in an ocean of denial.

Looking at the debacle unfold, one is reminded of the words of a famous ballad sang by American R n B stars Brandy and Monica whose theme was all about fighting for a man titled “The boy is mine”.

It sings in one part What we have you can’t take. From the truth you can’t escape.

It is indisputable truth that Oburu came to the Den having impressed during trials and his stint at the Cubs (AFC Leopards Under-20) in November last year. Prior to that, he had only featured for his estate team Shofco FC and Langata High School. He was signed under the wise direction of the AFC Leopards Head Coach, Stewart Hall, having watched him during the KPL Under-20 tournament in December. The lad was offered and willingly penned a four-year deal on December 20 last year. His papers were duly forwarded to the FKF and KPL and issued with a 2017 playing card.

Strangely like magic, Gor Mahia officials being the opportunists they are, claim to have signed him in January. They, who never spotted him nor gave him the chance to play for their Under-20 suddenly started chest thumping that the ‘boy is theirs’. Well, they say ignorance is bliss, but I dare to introduce these officials to a new saying: For FIFA so loved players, football and contracts that it passed Regulations on the Status and Transfer Of Players that whosoever reads, understands and follows them shall not be sanctioned!

If they bothered to read these regulations they would know, that Rule 13 is clear that contracts must be respected. Rule 18(3) is clear that a club should not approach a player who has an existing contract (one that has a remainder of more than six (6) months) directly, but through their club in writing. Furthermore there is a general presumption that should a player sign for another club while his contract is still subsisting then that cub is deemed to have induced the player to breach his contract and thus sanctions shall apply under Rule 17(4)! By the way, this is not an admission that he signed for Gor at any point.

I leave the Gor officials with the chorus of that famous song; “You need to give it up.

Had about enough.

It’s not hard to see the boy is mine (insert AFC’s)

I’m sorry that you seem to be confused, he belongs to me (insert ‘AFC’)

The boy is mine (Insert ‘AFC’s’)