Ghanaian Footballers Detained In Kenya Over Unpaid Bills

Former Asante Kotoko midfielder, Jackson Owusu has been detained in Kenya over unpaid hotel bills.

The 31-year-old Ghanaian international joined Kenyan side, Gor Mahia FC January this year after ending his stint with Lebanese side Tadamon SC.

Following the appointment of former Asante Kotoko coach, Steve Pollack, the English trainer recommended the signing of the talented midfield gem.

All Football activities in Kenya has been suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Owusu, speaking to NairobiNews in an interview, revealed that he has been detained in Jimlizer Hotel in Buruburu, where he resides in Kenya over unpaid bills of $6000 equivalent to Gh¢30,000.

“The Chairman, Ambrose Rachier has always been promising to come on a number of occasions to assist me but he has not been here. I am not allowed to leave with anything out of the hotel until there is a commitment from the club that the money will be paid. As at now, I don’t know when this will happen.” he said.

Jackson now depends on his parents in Kumasi for survival. He survives on the little token his parents send to him from Ghana and some club supporters who have been helping him to feed himself.

“My parents are poor and fully depend on me and they live in Kumasi many kilometres away from Accra. But I have been forced to reach out to them and sometimes they have been forced to travel to town and send me something little. You also know that here at the club we have also not been paid and I can’t assist them.

“I survived many a time by only eating one meal in a day and it has to be given out after the attendant has received the go-ahead from the manager. Some fans brought me food on Wednesday and I am really grateful for their kind gesture.

While reacting to the issue, Gor Mahia Deputy Secretary-General Ronald Ngala asked Owusu to be patient, saying the issue will be handled by the club.

“He should be patient. He will just be assisted,” Ngala said.

However, a source at the club revealed that it was not clear how Owusu was still staying in the hotel yet fellow foreign players David Mapigano and Juma Balinya are living in the rental houses.

“Usually when a foreign players join Gor they familiarise themselves with the environment for even a month then after salary payments they move out and rent a house on their own,” said the source who wished not to be named.