Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has dismissed transfer reports linking goalkeeper Gad Mathews with a move away from the FKF Premier League champions this season.

A week ago, the 27-year-old Mathews, who joined K’Ogalo in 2021 from Kisumu All Stars, delivered a cryptic message on his Facebook page which hinted he was leaving the club and it left Gor Mahia faithful with question marks.

In the message posted on his Facebook page, Mathews said: “Great team, worthy fight, a group to remember and a team to remember.”

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McKinstry has come out to cool down the claims insisting Mathews had a contract running with Gor Mahia and he had not requested to leave as reported in the media. “I was shocked to see the news Mathews was leaving Gor Mahia, and I can confidently tell you those are lies, those reports are baseless and not true,” McKinstry told Africa Top Sports, adding: “He has a contract with the club and has not asked to leave, so am wondering how he will walk away while he is still a Gor Mahia player.”

Mathews, who was the joint Golden Glove winner from last season, is yet to report to K’Ogalo’s pre-season training and the reason behind his absence, the Northern Irish tactician responded: “Mathews has family issues he is taking care of, he came to me personally and I gave him permission to sort the issues out, the club is very aware why he is not yet in camp.”

Gor Mahia will be keen to defend their league title when they kick off the 2023-24 season with a home game against Sofapaka on August 26.