Kariobangi Sharks Chairman Robert Maoga has dismissed reports that his club has not paid their players’ salaries for the last three months.
Maoga says despite the hard economic times, Sharks, the reigning Sportpesa Shield champions, were able to pay their players on a monthly basis.
He, however, admits they were struggling to meet their financial objectives but thanked his playing unit for being patient whenever there are delays by some weeks.
“We pay our players through bank accounts and there are records to prove that we are up to date in salary payments. There have been delays but it never goes beyond two weeks and I can also challenge the players claiming not to have been paid to show their bank statements,” said Maoga.
Sharks have the fifth highest wage bill in the top flight behind Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Tusker and Sofapaka in that order.
Top-flight clubs came under sharp scrutiny when it emerged that half a dozen teams including multi-sponsored Mathare United are yet to pay players’ wages since the year started.
Maoga has challenged any player who is owed for more than three months to invoke the law and terminate their contract. Labour laws in Kenya provide that should an employer fail to pay salaries in three months, then a player can walk out of a club and terminate their contract.
“We have not had any player walk out of Sharks because our delays hardly get to 14 days.”
Among the clubs facing salary challenges is Zoo FC, Vihiga United, Chemelil, Sony Sugar and Sofapaka.
