'Why Should I Greet Him?' - Mathare United Boss Explains Reason He Refused to Shake Charles Akonnor's Hand After Gor Mahia Defeat

Mathare United head coach John Kamau has spoken out following his side’s 2–0 loss to Gor Mahia on Wednesday, explaining why he refused to shake hands with opposing coach Charles Akonnor after the final whistle,  a gesture, or lack thereof, that caused quite a stir on the touchline.

The flashpoint came moments after the full-time whistle at Kasarani Stadium, where goals from Shariff Musa and Bryson Wangai sealed Gor Mahia’s fourth consecutive victory. 

As the players exchanged pleasantries, the two technical benches pointedly avoided each other, sparking questions about tension between the two coaches.

Kamau, however, dismissed any suggestion of bad blood, saying his actions were driven by principle rather than animosity.

“It was very simple — just the heat of the game,” Kamau said. “If you don’t greet me before the game, why would you want to greet me after the game?

“ Everyone has their reasons, and I had mine. That’s why I didn’t respond after the final whistle.”

He insisted the situation was unnecessarily blown out of proportion.

“I think the issue was made bigger than it was. We are professionals. If you don’t greet me, I won’t greet you — it’s as simple as that,” Kamau explained. 

“I didn’t feel disrespected, but my only concern was that they passed right behind our technical bench without saying anything. That’s a clear message — and I respect it.”

The Mathare coach also dismissed rumours that the exchange had anything to do with superstition or off-pitch antics.

“I don’t know anything about that. I don’t believe in such things. I’m a Christian — I believe in the rosary, and that’s it,” he said firmly.

On the pitch, Mathare United had shown flashes of quality, particularly in the first half when Kevin Ouru went close to opening the scoring. 

Kamau’s men played with intent and patience, but they were ultimately undone by Gor Mahia’s second-half sharpness and clinical finishing.

Despite the result, Kamau has remained steadfast in his belief that Mathare’s young side will bounce back. 

“We’ll take the positives, regroup, and move forward,” he said. “It’s football — emotions can run high, but the focus must stay on improving our performances and results.”