Ugly scenes of players harassing match officials, a trail of destruction in the dressing rooms marred the exit of Gor Mahia from the CAF Confederation Cup at the hands of competition debutants Napsa Stars on Sunday afternoon.
On the field of play, the Kenyan champions looked well on their way to the group stage until they conceded a penalty in the last seconds of added on time and veteran striker Emmanuel Mayuka converted the penalty to make it 2 – 2 with Napsa qualifying on a 3 – 2 goal aggregate.
The Gor Mahia players accosted the referee just when he blew for the penalty while others were seen trying to disfigure the penalty spot in apparent effort to make it difficulty for the penalty to taker to have a good shot.
Once the final whistle was blown, it had to take the intervention of the police to rescue the match officials from Lesotho from the angry players.
The visitors vented their anger on installations in the dressing room leaving a trail of destruction in their path. A ZamFoot Crew source close to the developments confirmed that the Heroes Stadium Authorities have officially communicated to Napsa on the damages and a bill for repairs to the dressing rooms will follow.
“Their behaviour was shocking to say the least,” the the ZamFoot Crew source said.
“Napsa were were kept guessing on the time of their arrival until Sunday morning.”
‘When they requested that the Covid-19 tests should be done at the Airport because they would be arriving a couple of hours before the game, arrangements were made to ensure all was in place when they arrived.
Unfortunately they wanted Napsa to pay for the Covid-19 tests. Where does that happen that the host team pays for the tests? They left the Airport without settling the bill for the tests, maybe the Kenyan embassy paid for them.”
“When Napsa travelled to Nairobi, they did not even have an official from Gor Mahia to welcome them, but here they were availed with the club bus for them to use and they even prepared police escort for their smooth passage from the airport to the stadium.”
“Again they insisted that they wanted to pass through the hotel, but the match commissioner had to put his foot down that he would not allow anything to delay the game. Napsa should be commended for the hospitality and how they tried their best to support them… even the hotel provided food packs for them which they had at the stadium. I don’t even want to talk about whether or not they settled the bill at the hotel, unless the embassy has carried that one also.”
“Today a bill from the Heroes Stadium was sent to Napsa Stars for the damages left behind at the stadium, it is unbelievable that experienced campaigners like them could behave like this.
Gor Mahia coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto in reaction to what happened after the atch stated that he did not agree with his player’s behavior but understood that it was out of frustration.
“I did not see a lot of things, but I understand my players. They were frustrated because of what happened in the last minute. I cant agree if our behavior is not fair or it is not correct; always I say this to my players that they need to be good players and good men always and our behaviour needs to be correct,” Pinto said.
“I understand why they thought they needed to talk to the referee because of what happened, they were very frustrated,” he added.
The ZamFoot Crew understands that the Match Commisioner and officials have filed a report with CAF on the what happened after the match.
In my view the afore mentioned incidents should be reported to CAF and Fifa so that an appropriate Action should be taken.
On escorts in Nairobi that is another case. They truelly behaved like in Ancient times. This is another case.
Definitely they will be punished that was very primitive
CAF must make sure that those uncivilized Kenyans face the wrath of disciplinary committee.
This was bad from Gor Mahia. The might had an issue with the penalty but that’s not how you behave. Stone age behaviour this. Come you can do better. I hope CAF Take action over this crazy behaviour.
Someone who watched the game was it a penalty or it was home ground call? Enlighten us.
Also I need to here from someone who watched the game. Sometimes ref’s are not fare at all
But why doing this n away from home, harassing the referee n slapping the police officer,u will see a Zambian team act like that we going out of country,we have been treated badly in some countries not even given as the training ground, bad hospitality coming here we give everything not even what your home soil can.caf do something i rest my case.