Coach Frank Nuttall praises players
It took four games but New Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall has finally recorded his first win since his arrival at the club. Gor Mahia scored a deserved 2-0 win over Kisumu county based Chemelil Sugar FC.
It was an all round excellent performance. Most striking was George Odhiambo “Blackberry’s” return to form. This column once noted that Blackberry just needed a coach to get inside his psyche to enable him to regain his confidence. Coach Nuttall may have found that key. And given the way he picked out Sserunkuma’s run for the second goal, then perhaps the duo are finally starting to get in sync.
Aside from Blackberry, it was an all round good performance. Owino “Calabar” gave his usual solid performance at the back. Skipper Jerim “Jagoal” has been solid in the past three games. Saturday was no different. And Walusimbi continued to thrive in his new playmaking position. Note that Walusimbi leads the club in assists this season. Kizito was solid as well.
“The players were fantastic today and it’s a good feeling to winning this match,” Nuttall said after the match.
Nutall noted that the team would continue to stay focused on their overall goal.
“We created a lot of chances in the first-half and scored the goal but we improved in the last half. We will approach each match as it comes and do our best to see we achieve our target of retaining the title,” Nuttall said in a post match interview.
Chemelil coach Mike Mururi has admitted he lost fairly
“My boys played very well in the first-half, we got our chances but we did not utilize them but Gor got theirs and converted. Lapse in the defence saw us concede the two goals so I lost fairly but we are still in the race because the difference is not huge.”
coach gd job Tom ogweno thnks 4 cmng back
The coach is gradually turning the team’s performance around. Blackberry is like a new signing and this could be the turning point in Blackberry performance. Since the new coach came, Gor Mahia is playing different style and formation on football. The coach has brought confidence to the players that were permanently in the bench such as Kevin Oluoch, Daniel Onyango, Blackberry, etc. Nuttal has also discovered the right position of Walusimbi as attacking winger with freedom to cut inside. This is giving many opponents defenders horrendous time to mark him. Kevein Oluoch is now playing very well.
I appeal to our fans to stop the habit of booing players like what they did to Eric Ochieng. Eric yesterday played very well in the midfield and the fact that he was being booed by our fans, he lost confidence and this is the main reason he did not scored the simple goal after being put through by Oboya. I can remember that our fans are very good at booings and shouting for unnecessary substitutions. They did this to Kevin Oluoch and Blackberry but now look at what Kevin is doing. We all have to stop this booings habits and instead encourage players.
I am very sure that once this coach gets the right team chemistry, Gor Mahia will go places. He has many attributes that in the long run will continue to change the team’s performance.
Eric Ochieng is a box to box midfielder. The lad is a very good and intelligent player with artistry skills, excellent ball control, good shots, good height, strong body etc. He just needs to be calm and have confidence. He can give us goals too. At this time, we all fans need to encourage him when he is either on or off form. Shouting at him or booing him is going to affect his confidence level.
In yesterday game, Eric played very well apart from three mistakes which are common in football. I can remember that our fans also did this to Kevin Oluoch and Blackberry too.
Let us encourage our players and correct them in a manner that boosts their confidence.ERIC OCHIENG,do not giveup pliz.Fight on man,fight it on man.
I totally agree with the sentiments of Messrs Mwakio and Tom Ochieng Okello. This lad Erick Ochieng is a very good player. He is one great asset to Gor Mahia because he is intelligent, brave and artistic. He just happens to be down like most Gor Mahia players, however, the physical trainer that is Frank Nuttall will surely work his magic on him.
To Eric Ochieng I must point out that you behaved very maturely as you walked off the pitch. Your gesture of appreciation of the fans despite their bad manners was great. You should not let them interfere with your job at all. Whenever you are fielded just go there and do your thing. Remember you are the one on the driving seat as far as playing in that position for Gor Mahia is concerned. If they were better they would be donning K’Ogalo colours as professionals. It just happens that that is not the case. Always remember that you have unique balling skills that have seen many refer to you as John Okello Zangi incarnate.
The ball is squarely on ERICO’S court to prove his critics wrong in the next assignment as long as the TB feels that he is still their suitable choice in that position.Fans will always be there to cheer or jeer players depending on the performance trend and it does happen world wide of which Gor MAHIA can not be an exemption.
And that is why even the likes of Iker Casilas and Karim Benzema faced the Same wrath from Real madrid fans after their false start in Laliga. When you perform poorly then don’t expect fans to remain mum as if nothing has happened. They appear in big numbers expecting a good show and not mediocrity.
The whole of this week both Germany and English media was a wash with OZIL lack commitment that can not justify his record transfer worth £50 Million after ARSENAL poor show in Dortmund. But he responded yesterday and justified why WENGER still believes he is the best assets in the club. IT IS UP TO ERICO and let him ignore fans concern at his own peril. Fans are like the fourth estate scribes who can make or break with a SI Le world.
Our players should understand that as the 2014 TPL approach the home stretch our fans expectation is at the fever pitch and they deserve to be appreciated by good performance. This is football and any silly mistakes can haunt the team in the long run. ERICO himself knows very well what he is capable of doing and it is up to him to redeem himself as the affected player , but as long as the poor show trend persist then he should be ready for the worse from the 12 th player. HIS BAD SHOW WAS “HUJUMA KWA MASHABIKI”.
The game was just awesome. On Eric i think it boils down to attitude. However skilled you are world over if you like the right attitude boy expect wrath from the fans. Fans come in different shades and if someone thinks we in church then he is in the backing the wrong tree. If i were him like what Okoth Jabilo has said he needs to think really hard what the booing means. Football is all about the fans and Gor Mahia by God’s grace has the fans and their expectations are high and will reach a fever pitch as we hit the home stretch and more will be demanded from each and every player. I believe each player given a chance will do just that.
Iam so glad Blackberry is beginning to pick. He needs to know that alot is and was expected from him. I must say i had great faith in him and prayed that he does well and i thank God for giving him grace at this point in time. With the kind of standing ovation he got yesterday at the center stand he can only get better because his confidence will come back to the glory of the club.
plse can somebody help, how many goals has Sserenkuma scored. It appears there are conflicting information on this issue. Some reports indicate 11 goals while others say they are 12
should be 12
Eric you are doing well. Ignore those who boo coz they dont even know how to kick a ball made of polythene bags
The team has greatly improved since Nuttal took over, BB and Kevin Oluoch were just awesome so is the style of play. For the fans, lets learn to appreciate the team and encourage the players even during their low moments and not hurl abuses at the players.
I see exciting times ahead for kogalo. Lets meet on Wednesday for another entertaining soccer match as we play the dockers.
Erick shud learn from Jerry “jagoal” whose form dwindled in the first q4 of the season but now is at the top of his form. But booing shud not be applied to correct a mistake.Booing shud be on opponents players to lower their performance. The next match will be very hard bcos Bandari is a relegation candidate & will be fighting for survival. So let us not count the chicks b4 they hatch. The league is @ a crucual stage & any mistake of thinking that another team is not gud enough to challenge Gor.
I strongly feel that Eric Ochieng will pick up from these minor mistakes and be a great player in Gor Mahia. Currently he’s among the best midfielders in Gor. So everybody have to deal with it.
He is just going through a bad spell. He had been playing well previously. But what fans must ask themselves is that If not Eric then whom? We have very few decent players in reserve.
I wonder what happened to prospects like Angelo Okumu, Herbert Kopany etc whom I heard were promising.