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The Irishman has revealed the reason behind Gad Mathews' absence in their opening match against Sofapaka.
Gor Mahia head coach Jonathan McKinstry has shed light on the absence of their regular goalkeeper, Gad Mathews, during their opening match of the 2023/2024 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) season against Sofapaka on Saturday, August 26th.
In a captivating encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw, McKinstry's decision to start rookie goalkeeper Caleb Otieno had the fans buzzing with curiosity.
The match, which took place at the iconic Moi International Sports Centre Stadium, saw K’Ogalo valiantly clawing their way back into contention after Darius Msagha's opening goal for Sofapaka just before half-time.
Otieno's impressive performance, marked by some crucial saves, caught the attention of spectators.
However, the absence of Gad Mathews, a fan-favorite between the posts, raised questions among the devoted K’Ogalo faithful.
“Gad Mathews had some minor surgery recently and just started training yesterday (Friday). But he is probably another week or two weeks away from training with the rest of the group; to be honest, he is about six or seven weeks from playing,” the gaffer disclosed.
"My honest assessment of Gad recovery is just slow. He was there at the training but he cannot dive nor make saves, so we have to let him heal properly."
Mathews' conspicuous absence at the beginning of the season had fueled rumors that he might have departed from the club.
The air of uncertainty around his situation was amplified when the reigning FKF Premier League champions secured the signature of Kevin Omondi, formerly of Sofapaka.
Before his absence, Mathews had left an indelible mark on the pitch, amassing an impressive record of 17 clean sheets.
This outstanding performance earned him the coveted Golden Glove award, which he shared jointly with Humphrey Katasi, formerly of Nzoia Sugar.
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