A young woman Cindie Michaels, a model and Miss Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) 2017 winner, made it to the headlines last week as her photos with Gor Mahia coach, Hassan Oktay, made rounds on social media.
Cindie has rubbished blog reports claiming she is parading herself as the football trainer’s girlfriend, yet Mr Oktay denounced her in a media interview.
Speaking on Tuesday, the lady, Cindie Michaels, said she posed for an “innocent” picture with Mr Oktay at Camp Toyoyo Grounds in Nairobi last Thursday, when the coach was on his way out after receiving football manager of the month award.
Cindie says she was at Camp Toyoyo Grounds in her capacity as a freelance journalist when she requested to take a picture with the tactician. Ms Michaels says she “innocently” posted the image on her social media pages, triggering a barrage of speculations from her followers and strangers alike.
“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 [Mr Oktay],” said Ms Michaels.
The KIMC student says contrary to blog reports that she is trying too hard to portray herself as Mr Oktay’s girlfriend she hadn’t even met him 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,” said Ms Michaels.
Last Thursday, Mr Oktay dismissed reports that alleged he had found love in Ms Michaels. “I am here for business. I have very tight targets and fixtures ahead. I have no time for the girls,” said Mr Oktay. “I do not know the girl and I have never seen her before. She just requested for a photo and I obliged,” said Mr Oktay.