Gor Mahia still divided over Rodriguez

By Omulo Okoth and Gilbert W andera

NAIROBI; KENYA: The Giovanni Rodriguez saga is not about to end any time soon. Even as Gor Mahia coach Zradvko Logarusic disdainfully dismissed the Brazilian as too unfit and overweight to join the ‘Green Army’ stable, a section of the club executive is uncomfortable with his abrasive assessment of the player and public pronouncements.

Gor Mahia chairman, Ambrose Rachier, took a middle ground, but was emphatic that a final decision will be made by the executive at a meeting early next week.

“We have his detailed records of video and resume from the Brazilian federation. The player has been keen to join us for the past two years and when he came here for trials, at his own expense, we thought we should give him a chance,” said Rachier.

Prove himself

“He has confessed that due to a lay-off, he is overweight, but he wants to regain his fitness. Although the coach has the final say on matters to do with fitness and talent, we need to give the player a chance to prove himself,” he added.

“As the chairman, I have not been briefed on the matter. I am just reading comments by the coach in the Press, which is out of order. We will sit down with the coach and other members of the technical bench to make the final decision,” he said.

“The coach is not the spokesman of the club. Matters of decorum and protocol were broken, but we understand that the coach comes from a different culture where coaches are managers and therefore assume the role of spokesmen,” he said.

The issue has reportedly divided the club down the middle, but Rachier sought to downplay this as “people who have divergent opinion on club management.”

Some fans are accusing the coach of vendetta against the Brazilian, and of feeling the player may take attention from him.

“It is the duty of coaches to protect players, such that even if he cannot pass the fitness test, a way would be found to describe the situation in a better way,” said a fan.

The Brazilian’s agent also weighed in with a resolute defence of his player.

Bernard Opondo, who brought Rodriguez to Nairobi through a Brazillian contact, insists the player has a two-year contract, which must be honoured by Gor.

He also defended his client against claims that he is unfit to play for Gor.

“Rodriguez is a professional player. He had a season long lay-off and was only practicing in the gymnasium which saw him add weight. With proper practice he is going to go back to his normal weight,” said Opondo.

He claimed the player trained under respected Brazillian coach Gebran Araujo, who also handled famous Brazillian midfielder Ronaldinho Gaucho.

Opondo claimed Logarusic was being used by a section of officials in the club to discredit his player.

“I have seen his training with Gor and he is a fantastic dribbler and therefore I am convinced that the latest outburst by Logarusic can only be incitement from some officials in the club,” added agent.

On Wednesday, Logarusic confirmed they have no space for the Brazillian team saying the player also has some personal issues to sort out back home.

“After watching the player in the last one week, it is our opinion as the technical bench that he will not fit in our system. He needs time to work on his fitness before we make any decision,” coach added.