Dylan Kerr reveals why he wanted Gor Mahia to axe defender Karim Nizigiyimana

Dylan Kerr has revealed that he petitioned Gor Mahia to drop defender Karim Nizigiyimana.

The Briton coach, who won two league titles with K’Ogalo, left the Kenyan champions to sign for Black Leopards of South Africa last month. However, the coach has confirmed to Goal that Nizigiyimana was among the players he had recommended for the club to release before the new season.

“Yes I did recommend that we let him (Karim) go because at the time, I was looking at another two foreign strikers. Karim is a great professional, who will himself admit that his return after injury wasn’t his usual self and it affected his performances.

“But with Philemon (Otieno) and Wellingtone (Ochieng) being Kenyan and right backs, we needed a top striker and I still believe that is the area that Gor Mahia should have concentrated on more in signing strikers.

“As I said it before, it was a football decision as the club needed more in striking options.”

Gor Mahia confirmed last week that they had parted ways with the Burundian, whose contract was to end in January. Already a number of top Kenyan clubs, Tusker, AFC Leopards Bandari and Sofapaka, are keen to sign the defender.