Gad Mathews Departs Gor Mahia After Seven Successful Years
The message landed on Facebook, but it read like something carved into Gor Mahia history.
“Came in as a boy but left as a man,” wrote Gad Mathews, as he confirmed his departure from the FKF Premier League giants after seven trophy-laden years. One line, and an era between the posts at K’Ogalo was officially over.
A goodbye steeped in silverware
Mathews’ note to the club and its fans was raw and direct. He thanked Gor Mahia for “unforgettable memories” and called the club “a great home in the past seven years,” before signing off with a nod to the bond he believes will outlast the changing atmosphere around him. The supporters, he said, made him feel at home.
On the other side of the farewell, Gor Mahia responded with the tone usually reserved for club legends. In their own statement, they confirmed his exit at the conclusion of his contract, saluted his “dedicated service and professionalism,” and underlined what everyone who has watched them in recent years already knew: his contributions were “invaluable” to their success.
This was not a routine contract expiry. It was the closing chapter of a goalkeeper who helped define a winning cycle.
From Kisumu All Stars to K’Ogalo mainstay
When Mathews arrived from Kisumu All Stars ahead of the 2019–2020 season, he was not yet the commanding presence that would come to dominate Gor Mahia’s penalty area. He grew into that. Quickly.
The former Kariobangi Sharks and Western Stima man seized the No. 1 shirt and refused to let it go. Match after match, season after season, his consistency and authority turned him into the default first choice. Defenders trusted him. Coaches built around him. Titles followed.
By the time he walked away, Mathews had three FKF Premier League crowns in his collection, the latest coming in the recently concluded 2025–2026 campaign, when Gor Mahia stretched their record to a 22nd league title. Those celebrations, the green and white confetti, the noise from the terraces – all of it framed by a goalkeeper who had become part of the club’s furniture.
Golden Glove and cup final heroics
The numbers tell one story. The moments tell another.
In 2022–2023, Mathews reached the peak of his league form, earning the FKF Premier League Golden Glove. Seventeen clean sheets, a total he shared with Humphrey Katasi, then at Nzoia Sugar. It was a season in which he didn’t just keep the ball out; he set the tone for a championship-level defence.
But if there is a single night that sealed his place in Gor Mahia folklore, it came in the 2021 Mozzart Bet Cup final against arch-rivals AFC Leopards. A derby. A trophy on the line. Penalties.
Mathews owned the moment. Two crucial saves in the shootout, a 4–1 victory, and the cup heading to the green half of the rivalry. He walked away with the tournament’s best goalkeeper award, but the bigger prize was less tangible: he became a hero in the eyes of a fanbase that measures its legends by what they do against Leopards.
End of an era, start of a reshuffle
With his departure, Gor Mahia lose not just a shot-stopper but a leader who marshalled the back line through multiple title runs. That kind of presence is hard to replace.
The club has not waited around. To reinforce the position, Gor Mahia have moved decisively in the market, bringing in Humphrey Katasi from AFC Leopards – the same Katasi who shared that 2022–2023 Golden Glove with Mathews – and National Super League Golden Glove winner Michael Onyango ahead of the 2026–2027 season.
It is a clear statement: the gloves will change hands, but the standards are not about to drop without a fight.
Mathews leaves with medals, records, and the respect of a club that rarely pauses for sentiment. The question now is not what he has done for Gor Mahia. That’s etched in league titles and cup finals.
The question is who will dare to follow him into that goal and keep a championship dynasty intact.
