Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay had revealed that he took off midfielder Hashim Sempala during Thursday’s Kenyan Premier League match against KCB for failing to stick to instructions.

The former Tusker FC captain was hauled off in the first half alongside countryman Erisa Ssekisambu with the KPL log leaders trailing by three goals.

Gor went to score two goals before the break and the equalizer deep into stoppage time in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Asked why he took off the midfield enforcer, Oktay said the defensive midfielder failed to deliver in the number 8 role and instead opted to defend.

“There was no urgency coming from Sempala at all. I deployed him to link up play between the midfield and the strikers but he decided to defend. He didn’t help the forwards at all and I had to act quickly,” he said.

Asked whether the substitutions worked, the tactician expressed his satisfaction at the input his subs Boniface Omondi, Dennis Oliech and Mustafa Francis.

‘They were tactical changes and they worked because we scored two quick goals. I was not impressed with our first half show and that’s why I had to make changes before halftime, “he added.

Regarded as one the best holding midfielders in the KPL, Ssempala joined K’Ogalo in the January transfer joining countrymen Ssekisambu and Shafik Batambuze