Gor top job attracts over 20 local and foreign coaches
![Gor top job attracts over 20 local and foreign coaches Gor top job attracts over 20 local and foreign coaches](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/122868/conversions/SP014A0546-ID28296-500x333-watermarked-og_image.webp)
AFC Leopards SC Jafari Owiti L is challenged by Gor Mahia FCs Ernest Wendo during FKF Premier League match dubbed Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo National Stadium on May 14, 2023. AFC Leopards SC won 2-1 . Photo Kelly Ayodi Sportpicha
Over 20 foreign and local coaches have applied for the coaching position
at record FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia, with Northern Irishman Jonathan
McKinstry set to leave the club at the end of the season.
Club Chairman Ambrose Rachier says the applicants include
coaches who have previously worked in Kenya and Europe.
“We
have received over 20 applications through email, direct calls and through other
means. We are still receiving more requests before we can start a vigorous vetting
process to come up with a suitable replacement for McKinstry,” said Rachier.
The long-serving K’Ogalo Chairman also says outgoing coach McKinstry
will nominate his preferred successor, who Rachier says will have to be vetted
just like the rest of the applicants.
“McKinstry had suggested he could give us an appropriate
replacement. We are obliged, but they will go through a rigorous vetting
process before we can end up with one name,” averred Rachier.
McKinstry leaves the club after guiding it to a record 21st
league title and a spot in next season’s CAF Champions League, and will need a
competent coach to see them through the group stages and beyond.
The
last time K’Ogalo featured in the continental showpiece was in
February 2021, when they were denied a group stage slot at the CAF
Confederations Cup by Zambian side Napsa Stars in the two-legged tie.
Rachier
says they will in the meantime rely on assistant coach Michael Nam, as they
continue with the process of identifying a new tactician.
“We
will need to know the history of all applicants, their past successes and their
level of coaching ability. We need to be very keen so that we are not duped,” added
Rachier.
Rachier
has further noted that the new tactician will be charged with the duty of
identifying new players to beef up the squad ahead of the CAF Champions League.
“McKinstry
had identified some players he wanted to be part of the team for the next
season. But the incoming tactician will have all the freedom to decide who to
include in his squad. We will play our facilitation role as the office,” noted
Rachier.
Gor Mahia
is the only team from the CECAFA region to have lifted a continental title,
Africa Cup Winners’ Cup, in 1987, with Tanzania’s Yanga FC coming close last
year after reaching the CAF Confederations Cup final only to fall to Algeria’s
USM Alger who lifted the trophy.
Other CECAFA teams that
have reached the finals of the continental tournaments and flopped include
Uganda’s SC Villa in 1992 and Tanzania’s Simba SC in 1993.
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