Gad Mathews Emotional Farewell Marks End of Gor Mahia Era
Seven years, three league titles, one Golden Glove, countless saves. Gad Mathews has closed the chapter on his Gor Mahia story.
The veteran goalkeeper confirmed his departure after the expiry of his contract, bringing to an end a spell that began in 2019 and grew into one of the defining goalkeeping stints of the FKF Premier League era.
He did not leave quietly. He left with a message.
“Came in as a boy but left as a man. Saying goodbye is never easy, but I couldn't be more excited for your next adventure as a club,” he wrote on Facebook, a note that read as much like a farewell to family as to an employer.
“Thank you for the unforgettable memories and for being such a great home in the past seven years. The atmosphere may change, but our bond won't. All the best Mahia... And to the fans, you made me feel at home.”
From Kisumu to K’Ogalo’s No. 1
When Mathews arrived from Kisumu All Stars ahead of the 2019–2020 season, he was one more promising name on a long Gor Mahia team sheet. Within months, he was something else entirely: the man with the gloves, the voice at the back, the first name on the team sheet.
He had already done his rounds in the local game with Kariobangi Sharks and Western Stima. Gor Mahia turned him into a champion.
His consistency under pressure, his command of the box, his leadership in a dressing room loaded with expectation — all of it helped drive K’Ogalo through title races and cup nights alike. Across those seven seasons, Gor Mahia lifted three FKF Premier League crowns, including a record-extending 22nd title in the recently concluded 2025–2026 campaign. Mathews stood behind all of it, literally and symbolically.
Golden Glove and Cup Final Heroics
If there is a single season that captured his peak, it was 2022–2023.
That year, Mathews walked away with the FKF Premier League Golden Glove, keeping 17 clean sheets. He shared the honour with Humphrey Katasi, then at Nzoia Sugar, a stat that underlined not just his reliability but his dominance in a league where one mistake can define a season.
But trophies for goalkeepers are often won on nights, not months. His defining night came earlier, in the 2021 Mozzart Bet Cup final.
Up against fierce rivals AFC Leopards, the match went to penalties. That is where goalkeepers earn their legends, and Mathews did exactly that. Two crucial saves in the shootout, a 4–1 victory, and Gor Mahia with the cup in their hands. He walked away from that final not only with the trophy, but with the tournament’s best goalkeeper award and a place in club folklore.
Those are the moments supporters remember. The outstretched arm. The roar after the save. The green shirts sprinting towards their keeper.
Club Tribute and a New Guard
Gor Mahia responded to his farewell with a message of their own, confirming his exit and acknowledging the scale of his contribution.
“Goalkeeper Gad Mathews departs the club following the conclusion of his contract; we extend our deepest gratitude to Gad for his dedicated service and professionalism. His contributions have been invaluable to our success journey. We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavours. Thank you, Gad and all the best!”
The words were formal, but the sentiment was clear: a pillar of their recent dominance is gone.
The club has not stood still. Even as one chapter closes, the next is already being written in the goalkeeping department. Gor Mahia have moved for two of the most reliable stoppers in the country: Humphrey Katasi, now arriving from AFC Leopards, and National Super League Golden Glove winner Michael Onyango.
Katasi, once Mathews’ Golden Glove rival, now walks into the very goal he used to face. Onyango, fresh from a standout NSL campaign, joins with the hunger of a man stepping into the top flight with something to prove. Between them, they are tasked with replacing not just a goalkeeper, but a presence.
End of an Era, Start of a Chase
Mathews leaves as a three-time league champion with Gor Mahia, a Golden Glove winner, a cup final hero, and a standard-setter for those who follow. He arrived a boy, as he said. He departs a man who helped carry a giant.
Gor Mahia will move on. They always do. The titles demand it. The pressure on Katasi and Onyango will start from the first whistle of 2026–2027.
The real question now sits with the man who has just walked away from the green jersey: after seven years at the heart of Kenya’s most decorated club, where does Gad Mathews write his next chapter?
