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Local football star Dennis Oliech has begun his legal tussle with immediate former employers Gor Mahia after the Kenyan Premier League champions abruptly terminated his contract last week.

Oliech, who was being pursued by Gor’s arch-rivals AFC Leopards, however, failed to seal any move to a local club by 5pm when the time the transfer window was closed and told People Sport that he was taking a sabbatical, with the intention of coming back in December when the next window opens.

According to Gor’s chief executive Lodvick Aduda, the club terminated Oliech’s contract after he showed interest in contesting for the forthcoming Kibra by-elections by printing a political poster while wearing the team’s jersey.

“I have officially begun the legal process against Gor Mahia through my lawyer today (yesterday). I have opted to go to the sports tribunal because they normally sort such issues within a month. If it doesn’t bear fruit, I will report the matter to world football governing body Fifa,” said Oliech.

He added: “Gor must pay what they owe me. One year was still remaining on my contract, so they will have to pay my full salary for 12 months and also complete paying my signing fee since they had only settled half of it.”

The celebrated striker, who has scored the highest number of goals for national team Harambee Stars, says he still had three more years to play active football and vowed to return to action in December during the next transfer window.

While at Gor, his goal ratio to matches played confirmed that he was still one of the most prolific goal-getters in the country and local teams with financial muscle are likely to rush for his signature when the opportunity arises.

While Gor’s top scorer in the league last season, Nicholas Kipkurui managed nine goals from 31 matches, Oliech who only played four full matches, scored five league goals. The then-head coach Hassan Oktay used him sparingly in other matches, introducing him with less than 15 minutes remaining.