A woman pictured with Gor Mahia head coach Hassan Oktay has come out to tell her side of the story after their picture led to speculation of an affair between the two.
The picture that was taken at Camp Toyoyo Grounds in Nairobi last Thursday shows Oktay holding the woman by the waist. It was taken when the K’Ogalo coach was on his way out after receiving a football manager of the month award.
The young curvaceous woman is none other than Cindie Michaels, a model and freelance journalist.
Ms Michaels, the Miss Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) 2017 winner, says she was at Camp Toyoyo in her capacity as a freelance journalist when she requested to take a picture with Hassan Oktay.
“I posted the photo on Facebook and captioned it: ‘This is how Gor Mahia will be grabbing the CAF confederations trophy.’ It did not last long before I started receiving phone calls from strange numbers asking about my relationship with him [Oktay],” says the beauty queen.
According to Cindie Michaels, she hadn’t even met the Turkish tactician before that day.
“For instance one blog wrote that I was parading myself as Oktay’s girlfriend and that he disowned me. I just laughed it off. Let me put the record straight: I am not dating anyone! I am focused on advancing my career, both as a journalist and a model.”
Hassan Oktay had also rubbished the rumors that the two were dating noting that he is only focussed on his work.
“I am here for business. I have very tight targets and fixtures ahead. I have no time for the girls,” Mr Oktay told People Sports last Thursday.
“Today [March 21] I was so happy after winning the Coach of the Month award and I was taking photos with anyone who requested. I do not know the girl and I have never seen her before. She just requested for a photo and I obliged,” Hassan Oktay explained.
