By Reuben Olita
The 21-time Football Kenya Federation Kenya Premier League champions, Gor Mahia, are sourcing for a head coach after disbanding its entire technical bench due to mediocre performance in 2024-2025 season.
Gor, who were the KPL defending champions, surrendered the title to Kenya Police who won the title for the first time since the inception of the KPL in 1963.
The club, which is fondly known as K’Ogalo, also failed to clinch the MozzarBet ( President’s) Cup, losing 1-2 to the newly promoted Nairobi United FC that is under the tutelage of former international and current FKF vice president, Nicholas Muyoti.
The win for the Mighty Gor in the MozzarBet Cup would have earned them a ticket to feature in next year’s Africa Cup Winners Cup that they won in 1987 after beating Esperance of Tunisia on away goals rule.
With the club ending the season without any trophy in their cabinet, the onus now lies on the club management under the chairmanship of Ambrose Rachier to scout for a coach who can revive the confidence of its ardent supporters.
The club’s and international defender Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno was the first local coach to head the team’s technical bench dominated by foreigners since 2012 but failed to deliver during his two months tenure.
The question among the club’s eager supporters is, which country will Rachier source for a coach to steer Gor to recover its lost glory?
Gor Mahia FC has recruited three coaches a piece from England and Brazil since 2012, a feat that might make the club opt to scout a coach from either of those countries.
Jose Marcelo Ferreira was the first Brazilian to handle Gor’s technical bench one year, three months between March 2016 and June 2017.
Robertinho Oliveira ( October 2020- September 2021), lasting 11 months. Leonardo Neiva was the third for 4 months between July 2024 and November 2024.
The first English coach to handle K’Ogalo was Dylan Kerr for one year, four months between July 2017 and November 2018.
Steve Polack was second between July 2019 and October 2020 for one year 3 months. Mark Harrison was third between August 2021 and January 2022 for 5 months.
Two coaches to head Gor’s teachnical bench came from Scotland with a similar number sourced from Croatia to give the club also a chance to get a coach from those countries.
Bobby Williamson was the first Scottish coach to be enlisted at Gor’s technical bench in July 2013-August 2014, where he discharged his duties for one year and
one month.
He was followed by Frank Nuttall ( September 2014- February 2016), translating to one year and five months.
Zdravko Logarusic was the first Croat to coach Gor Mahia for 1 year and 3 months between March 2012- June 2013, Sinister Mihio ( for 3 months) between February 2025 and May 2025.
Other coaches who have handled Gor’s teachnical bench include Hassan Oktay from Turkey, Carlos Vaz Pinto ( Portugal), Andres Spier ( Germany), and Jonathan McKinstry ( Ireland) who won the title for Gor in two consecutive seasons, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
Tusker is second with 13 victories in KPL, the last being back to back in 2022-2023 season, while AFC Leopards, which has clinched the title 12 times, last won it in 1998.
