Mixed luck for ex Kogalo players/coaches
Former Gor Mahia coach, the popular Gideon Ochieng was recently fired from his position as Coach at newly promoted Congo United. Talk about an unceremonious sacking, Ochieng was sacked via SMS. Club financier, Fadhil Bayusuf, did not have the decency to face Ochieng in person. The message read “Coach you are among the very good coaches here in Kenya but by your bad luck you have been unable to shine. I therefore feel it’s better you stepped down so we can give the chance to another coach to continue with the team.”
A devastated Ochieng’ said: “I have just received a text message from the club president himself terminating my services and I think this is a crude way to do things since I have a one-year contract that runs up to the end of December 2011.
“It’s unfortunate that the club chief has treated me this way. I am the same person who registered the club with the Register of Societies when the Kenyan Premier League had refused to recognise them, only to be stabbed in the back after only seven games and, above all, through a text message. I’m yet to talk to him but I’ll consult and take the necessary steps.”
Ochieng, popularly known as “Agido”, played at left back for Kogalo in 1994. He was primarily a second team player in a team that featured a rock solid defence with Zedekiah Otieno “Zico”, Tobias Ocholla “Jua Kali” , Sammy Omollo, Paul Ochieng, Charles Ogutu among others. He became Kogalo coach sometime around 2007 when ho took over from Raphael Auka whose brief spell as Kogalo coach ended when he was forced out by irate fans for poor performance. Agido took over and Kogalo fortunes took a turn for the better. They went from finishing 9th in the league to 5th. He was briefly fired after the club elections of 2008 but fan pressure saw his return. However behind the scenes intrigues so the return of former player and team-mate “Zico” Otieno as technical advisor. Confusion amongst the fans and division amongst the players saw the club forced to clarify the ‘pecking order’ which stated that Zico as technical advisor was the head of technical bench. A few months later, Agido was fired from Kogalo for the second time much to the chargrin of fans who saw him as one of the primary reasons for the change in fortunes of the club. Upon his departure, he thanked the club and fans for giving him an opportunity to establish his credentials. After a year hiatus, he was hired by Congo United from where he has now been unceremoniously fired.
A former coach and player who is currently enjoying a high level of success is Sammy Omollo “Pamzo”. He has led Tusker to the top of the league where they are runway leaders with 21 points. While at Gor Mahia as their head coach in 2008, that Omollo was chased out of office in a manner similar to Auka’s and Agido’s.
Gor had gone through a string of poor results under Omollo and the last straw that broke the back of the club lovers was a 1-0 loss to Red Berets at City Stadium on April 21, 2008.
“You are fired,” barked a Gor official to the surprised Omollo soon after the match had ended, as club fans cheered wildly. It later emerged that the rash decision had been prompted by pressure from the demanding Gor fans and that some club officials were not for it. Too late, Omollo, a former international defender, said a coach could not be judged on one result, dusted himself and left the club he had once served so diligently as a player and later coach. Last year Omollo coached Mahakama who were relegated under his watch. Many Tusker fans therefore wondered what was the rationale of hiring Pamzo. He has surely proved them wrong.
Sammy Omollo joined Gor Mahia in 1991 after playing for the Kenya U-21 side where he featured alongside another Kogalo signee Allan Odhiambo. He left for Tusker briefly before returning to Kogalo in 1993. That same year he earned a tryout with English second tier side Bournemouth. He says the deal fell through due to intereference from club officials. Omollo was spotted by some officials of Indian side East Bengal in 1996 when Kenya beat Algeria 3-1 in a World Cup match. They made him an offer. He was reluctant to accept their offer because he thought cricket and hockey were the only games India was well known for. An erstwhile player in a Nairobi cricket club, he decided to take a three-month contract with the Indian club.
The year started poorly for legendary Gor Mahia stopper Bobby Ogolla. He has been hired by SoNy Sugar as head coach. At SoNy, he was to team up with former club mate Peter Otieno “Bassanga”. Backroom shenanigans saw him sidelined in favor of MIke Baraza who interestingly has been fired this week.
Ogolla is considered by many as the best defensive stopper Kenya has ever produced. More about him is covered in a previous article. Before SoNy , Ogolla had a stint as assistant coach at Sofapaka and a very brief stint as national team coach.
Sorry to our former comrades. What we want is to win this league no matter what, on Tuesday we have to get 3 points and take the boys immediately to Mombasa to acclimatize before we crush out next opponents. There is no room for loosing matches now! Zeddie and the players wekeni bidii we cant loose, not now! Dont take any team lightly deal with them scuffoniuously!
I have just read from the supersports website that Collins Okoth has been suspended by Zico. I can predict that this is beginning of Zico’s downfall and he is soon going to follow the likes of Matano, Baraza, Agido, Yakhama etal in the list of coaches that have failed to read the game. Zico has failed to unite the players and his arrongant attitude is going to be his mulfunction as the club coach.
Yes we all know that Collins has some personal problems but this boy once given the chance, he plays with total commitment to the club. The boy needs some help and we had suggested that Gor Mahia should engage psychologist to help such players unleash their hidden potentials.
Neither suspensions nor disciplinary action will help such players. I remember very well that Jolawi Obondo was very good in handling players with personal problems like Okoth.
Zico please note that your days are numbered in the club. The more you continue destroying players like Owiti, Okoth, Kitawi, Musa, Kevo, etc the more we are watching your steps. Should you fail to beat Mathare, count yourself out of Gor Mahia. We cannot stomach this far fetched attitude of destroying our club.
One thing i realised with the last game was the players were too impatient. Haraka haraka haina baraka guys. Zico teach the players the art of ball possesion just like what the Brazilians advised us. We had clear chances against Ulinzi but because of lack of patience and confidence we came naught. Why pass a ball which you can easily score Awilo and Opondo please!. There was clear lack of fitness on the guys on the left wing, Wekesa almost getting a red card for a silly tackle surely; patience and precision is the key to any good tackle Wekesa. Look at how Ulinzi were playing, changing wings (kufungua game)with ease coz their midfield had vision and i think our players should learn this art. Gor mahia still lack strong leadership on the field. One last thing, the center stand is too expensive for me now what with rumours of peolple bribing thier way to center stand and fuel up, i would rather fuel my car coming to the game than continue paying 400Ksh per game, NIKUHAMA Russia. So officials now with the sponsorship in can you think in terms of volumes and reduce the center stand to 200Ksh. Retain the current fans and acquire and convert new ones. Hey thats just my oponion.
Paulo,u av shocked me without Collins am smelling a rat.it is high time for Gor Mahia to hire the services for psychologist atleast it will help both players and coaches to understand one another cos as saying goes a stich in time saves …………… We dont want to loose players as players who leave Gor Mahia there next stop is Europe.Blackberry opened the door let other players follow the same footsteps.
I have read it after your post and it seems to be a disciplinary issue. I stand to be corrected but from what i observed since our game with city stars the boy has been down a case of lack of match fitness and if Zedi is saying he lacked commitment it has been evident on the field. He posted on his facebook wall that he is ready to move to another club talk of someone feeling he is indispensible and he will throw trash in your face. Does he need help surely he does and if he doest want one thing for sure he will look back one day and regret his lack of humility during this period. The other thing i see is Gormahia will need a foreign coach in the likes of Len Julians with no ties to any player and thats the time we will succeed. I stand to be corrected.
If the guy is big headed the coach has a right to bench leave alone suspend him. Even if he can dodge everyone in the field and score with that kind of arrogance we don’t need him.. We are not in Gor to teach discipline the players need to understand that they are at work and earning a living and any case of rudeness or mr i know all, am the best will not be tolarated. Have u ever heard Messi having disciplinary issues? Zeddie get someone else to fill this guys space and loan him to nationwide side. Collins a word of advice(ring’ ka igoyo machemo)meaning run as you look back…..coz u might find u are running alone. Zeddie is the coach and has a right to field his players as he sees fit and I also know that he knows his job is on the line if Gor keeps loosing, Please stop interefering with the coach and his selection of players, the fans a word of caution “It is always easy to play on the sidelines get in there then u will know what it takes………..”
three things that am sure will determine success irrespective of talent and good luck…
1. discipline
2. hardwork
3. teamwork
There are times a team has a very talented player who is indispensible because he’s simply a match winner best example that currently comes to mind is Man U’s Rooney,K’galo’s had its John Okello’Zangi’ and am told William’Chege’Ouma was similarly inclined.Collins I must say is not of that calibre yet. Zico has our full support in choosing his squad since the buck stops with him.Its been said time and time again K’galo’s weak links are the attack, midfield (we lack dribblers and players with creativity to support Lavasta and open up the game)and am sorry to say our other big problem is the technical bench. We’ve lost games we shouldn’t have lost and our next 2 games are crucial. If Zico can’t we both then he should take responsibility and quit.He has every right to discipline players as he wishes so long as he wins matches and titles(with GM playing beautifully)
Finally some people are speaking sense. The mid season transfer window is coming I hope the coach will try and fill the spaces mentioned by Oduor12, Do u know how many players out there are fasting and praying to play for GM. If anyone knows this guys personally tell them”THOYE INEYE KA OHERI” meaning just die and find out if u are a darling of many. The moment u die we will cry a little but surely we will forget u, no one is indispensable. Finaly to the players please adhere to what Mama maggie has stated and dont forget God.
if we have discipline issues in the team . . .I will support ZEDI all through. He needs to release such players but let such players know the league has become so professional that they will not find it easy to survive
Hi, i am entitled to my complain and so will i do! 1. Must this jerry guy gift opponents goals in all these games..at sher,thika and today! And who knows how many times more? 2. Why must odera waste our time every day when we have salaried personel in owiti and kiplangat. 3. Must this opondo guy play in all irrelevance all this time? 4. Disciplinary action on players is a must but can officials deny or confirm if the coach smokes bhang and if some players have been influenced as rumoured!
Ma fans, for once we are all in agreement. Discipline is paramount. NOT negotiable no matter how good the player is. Mama Maggie has summarised it very well. Tukutane Mombasa!!!!
i agree with paulo, zico is on his way out, we have very tough games in may and we might loose all of them since the mid is practically dead without collins. luckily we have anaba awono, who is more qualified, experienced, objective and more no nonsence than zedi.
we all know opondo, ochola, are not gor standard why they get fielded ahead of uch better players i dont know
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