Gor top job attracts over 20 local and foreign coaches

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.