Now the hard work starts
Austin Oduor raises the cup circa 1987
Having won the FKL cup, Gor Mahia now has the honour of representing the country in the 2012 Africa Confederations cup. The last time Kogalo participated in a continental event, they were unceremoniously dismissed by APR of Rwanda. This time again, the eyes of the entire country will be trained on the team. As such the team will be hard pressed to emulate the exploits of Sofapaka who made history by becoming the first Kenyan team to eliminate an Egyptian team. They did this while going further than any other Kenyan team has gone in a continental event since Tusker (Then known as Kenya Breweries, reached the finals in 1994) .
For Kogalo to do well , there will need to be plenty of advanced planning. All aspects of the team will need to be looked into, starting with the technical aspects. As things stand right now, Gor Mahia has scored a paltry 23 goals from 27 matches. A strike rate of well below a goal per game. A stark contrast to KCB who have scored 36 goals. It cannot be gainsaid that Kogalo must sharpen its strike force. They will go nowehere by scoring less than a goal per game. Kogalo must seek technical assistance to solve the dearth of goals and the glut of missed chances that causes Kogalo to score such few goals. The club needs a dependable goal getter. As much as Kogalo had a solid team in 1987, they would not have gone far without the scoring exploits of Peter Dawo.
Gor Mahia will need to score at least two or three goals at each home game because they can fully expect to concede some goals away when they play to hostile crowds. Gone are the days when Gor Mahia had an excellent away record. In those days, the club fans were so demanding that Kogalo players always felt at ease when playing away that they could relax. Today the fans are less demanding and more supportive. This is a good thing in many ways but it also means that Kogalo players have become really used to playing with the 12th man. Kogalo players who have become very used to depending on partisan support will have to learn quickly how to play in front of hostile crowds. Perhaps a few friendlies overseas.
Secondly, Kogalo must seek to solidify every position even if it meams recruiting from outside. There should be no favouritism. There must be no weaknesses as Kogalo pursues continental glory.
Finally the club management must plan for this expensive endavor. Planning starts now. Do not wait until 2 weeks before the first game to declare that the club is having difficulty purchasing tickets. Fans can play their part and have proven willing to do so by contributing towards motivating players or settling expenses.
Nothing less than a deep run into the cup will satisfy the Kogalo faithful who are eager to make amends after the recent disastrous campaigns. Before loosing to APR in 2008, the last time Kogalo played in continental football was in 1996 when they lost to Dyanamos of Harare 1-0 both home and away resulting in massive riots. Fans will be eager to to see a better performance.
The hard work must first begin with thorough in-house cleaning so that we can have committed and loyal professionals at helm of GM executive committee. The team has been in a lot un-warranted malpractice thorough out the entire season due to lack of leadership as a result of one man show from one AR and quacks in the likes of Ataro and company.
What fans need more than anything is to register as branch members in large numbers and sweep clean the bloated office and bring a lean team of people who will not use GM as a platform for their egocentric political ambitions. The issue of ambitions and multiple-tasking at expense of GM mission and vision should not be overlooked by individuals whose obligation at the long run will be to have their “MPANGO WA KANDO”.
For some of us like @Dan and @Kisore who are still hero-worshipping individuals without looking at the issue’s at take and circumstances that has made Ko’galo perform below our expectation, I urge them to be man enough and call a spade a spade and not a big spoon.
One AR has outlived his usefulness and he should quietly pave way for others. Despite the fact that he caused Mohamed Hussein the ultimate votes to win the elections his days in GM are numbered just as the so called “ZICO contract” which is expiring sooner than latter.
Let a new office over see and lead from front as regards transparency on soliciting and management of GM funds, technical solution to the bench,players recruitment ,incentives and renumeration
Nice piece Admin, my one wish is that we get a proper training ground. I have access to an excellent facility within Karura Forest (Formerly known as Shell/BP Sports Club. I have even negotiated with the management there to smooth the way should Gor Mahia’s technical bench like the facility. The ground is not the best but is a far better improvement to what we have had at Eastleigh High School and now Moi forces Academy. Hot Showers, away from the hustle abd bustle of Eastland etc. A second exceptionally outstanding facility can also be found at the Postbank Training and Sports complex. The facilities are fit for a big club. However i am not too familiar with the cost although i can use my commercial acumen and contacts to find out. This is believe is critical to our performance.
In deed the hard work begins now as consequences of failed planning are clearly evident. To start with;-
a)The technical bench should embark on a journey of psychologically remoulding the players to start thinking continental i.e. mental confidence & composure is key & core in continental stage.
b) Since it is rumored/confirmed that some of our key players (Masika -France,Lavatsa-AFC,Gatusso-Sweeden/Sofapaka, Dube-SA….) will be moving to greener pastures which is highly commendable and all the best to them, we must embark on focused recruitment in all departments. We need precision from goalkeeping, defending, distributing to striking. The issue of missed chances must be handled now. Our strikers should learn ball placement, rounding of the goalkeeper………..Kogalo Diehard
WHO IS PERFECT?
Comrade Ogango Trailer. I read your comment today and I feel it is uninspiring. For a long time now, we have been witnessing a clear and systematic attempt to discredit all of our currrent offficials ahead of the AGM.
I want to go down on the record that these reckless and malicious allegations can never take this club anywhere. Infact it is the liks of comrade Ogango and his ilk who are lowering the status of this great club.
How can you just dismiss everyone in the club? What is wrong with AR to gun for a top seat? What sin did ZD commit to warrant such ridicule? What crime did the entire EC commit to invite blanket condemnation ?
Some of us have been branded mediocre when we defend coach Zico. We shal never be intimidated. We shall remain steadfast to our cause hoping that our little contribution will bring sanity to this great club. A great club is built on mutual respect, displine and a strong vision.
@Pareyio Ole Lelerue, I totally agree with you. @OGANGO, you cannot just be discrediting everything other people do or say. May be you have a problem. Please respect other members because the current office was elected not selected. They represent the voice of the members. If requesting bloggers to restrain from unkind words against club leaders mean hero-worshing, then so be it. The same vigour I supported ZD, is the very same one I am supporting Awono the coach now. If Ogango Trailer is elected chairman in the impending elections, then he will have my undivided support. Let us learn to respect our leaders. It’s a virtue my friend Ogango Trailer. Lastly any grapevine on the would-be aspirants for the chairmanship come elections? Over to you Ogango Trailer!! For God and my club Kogallo.
Well said @Kosero and @Ole. While @OmondiOmollo is looking at the long-term well-being of the club some of us are still stuck in a time-warp where we only see personalities. We need to decide whether we want to win the league next year and then wait for another ten years or wait another three years and then win it for the next five consecutive years. That’s what planning and structuring the club entails. Wanting change for the sake results in the disappointment some people are now experiencing after the national soccer elections. Now we have Kimanzi as the national team coach and ZD is out. I wonder if that’s the change Kenya wanted. Thought we would have a professional coach who is not aligned to any club. So GM followers let’s take our time and decide the changes we need and not be driven by emotions and hatred. Otherwise decisions made out of hatred can only take us nowhere.
@Ogango hero-worshipping and reasoning things out are two different things.
Great Omondiomollo i surely hope EC will follow up on this,btw waz up with the B.Branch, Ogango say it like it is,wachana na boot lickers who coincidently went into a short hibernation at the same time ZD deserted GM!!
For the continental assault lets get a technical director with proven continental pedigree to work with AA, lets luk beyond our borders 4 player talent we may unearth an Orieko,Ayieko,A Nasur etc.
W Obwaka 4 chair hhmm, sounds gud lets hear more good suggestions.
@4 pareyio ole lelerue and @5 Albert Kosero as comrades on this blog it is my understanding that you are all entitled to your own opinion and not withstanding your basic individual right as regards freedom of expression.
But what is it that you guys fear and cry foul about with regard to my diverse stand on issue’s that are as painfully affecting GM and as a matter of fact all the inner dealings are now in the public domain.
LET BE JUST SPILL SOME FOR BLOGGERS TO DIGEST; SO THAT THEY CAN COMPREHEND WHY I DO RECOMMEND RADICAL SURGERY.
1. Why was GM paid 3 MILLION during the international
transfer and sale of BLACK-BERRY to RANDERS and
only 1 million ended in GM account. Who pocketed 2M?
2. Who facilitated the TUZO deal of 39 million and
ended up with 9 Million as a token of
appreciation (KITU KIDOGO YA ASANTE)?
3. Who absconded the emergency crisis meeting for EC
to avoid when the technical bench and playing unit
were summoned due to poor performance?
4. Are you aware that GM is broke despite all the gate
collection that even in some occassion surpased 5
million. Tell me guys who is the is brain-master
behind the counterfeit tickets.
IF YOU CAN CANDIDLY ANSWER THE ABOVE QUESTION THEN YOU WILL REALIZE THAT DECISION MAKING ORGAN AT THE MOMENTS IS NONE OTHER THE INDIVIDUALS I HAVE MENTION @1 AS OGANGO TRAILER.
Let us reason with facts and figures that can stand the test of time. GOR MAHIA IS THERE TO STAY AND OFFICIALS COME AND GO; SO LETS PREPARE WELL FOR MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES “GM ELECTIONS”
@ 6 Dan go tell Rachier that his un-calculated move to spoil for HUSSEIN MOHAMED the “Change in football management” that we dearly yearned for has caused ZICO his job at Harambee Stars? Na uta do nini?
Next stop is your one AR; Its house cleaning time and mediocre performers like your one ZD, AR and ATARO have to quit and pave way for fresh and untainted brains.
@ 7 ODUOR 12 thanks for giving them just a tip in the ice-berg; DAKTARI IS JUST BUT ONE OF THE CONTENDERS. The most prominent ones are quiet because we do not want hero-worshippers to begin soiling and scandalizing there CV’S.
GUYS YOU ARE IN FOR SURPRISE! LET US HOLD OUR AND FINISH THE LEAGUE, THEN ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES.
Happy to report that ZD has been sacked as Harambee stars coach…i wish him well in whatever he opts to do for his life.
I wish we could narrow the discussion to what omondiomollo @2 and Amimo Opudo @3 are saying. They are expounding on policies and not personalities. That’s why the country went for a new constitution so that we remove the aspect of the type of president we can have. Once we have those policies in place we will not be talking of bootlickers (whatever that means in GM context) or AR or ZD but the club will be able to run on its own. We also need to be consistent as fans. Just a few blogs back some of the bloggers were against AA but are now singing his praises.What does that tell us about ourselves? Compare it to those like @kosero and @Ole pareiyo who have consistently advocated for managed change despite being branded all types of names. We can choose to go with the heart, the head or both to make the changes we desire in GM. As we await our elections are we going to judge people by what they did when GM needed them most or what criteria are we going to use. Surely there will be surprises just like the FK one. Do we need someone with business acumen or just any soccer lover to lead GM? What of the numerous business opportunities that we are currently missing in terms of merchandise sale and all the associated goodwill. Do we need someone to lead GM because we love him(her) or because the person has something to offer to GM? What if the former Safcom MD wanted to lead us would we agree? If the person is not from our ethnic group will we agree? Those are the HARD questions we need to ask ourselves instead of branding others names.
Ogango trailer has raised some valid points. There is no transparency in the way Kogalo finances are handled. Club officials have always been selfish. They want fans to contribute money to the club but they dont want to explain how the money is used. I once read a message from a current club officials that made me laugh. When asked about club accounts, he simply said “Its not the fan’s business.”…
WE NEED ONE DAN SSERUNKUMA IN THE ENGINE ROOM.THE MAN IS A REAL DYNAMO AND CAN DRIVE THE TEAM FORWARD TO SUPPLIMENT GATTUSOS EFFORTS.WHAT OMONDI @2 POSTED SHOWS WHAT AILS OUR CLUB.HOW CAN WE TRAIN ON THE THREADBARE PITCH IN A SCHOOL THEN EXPECT TO PLAY GOOD SOCCER ON THE CITY ASTRO TURF? THIS IS A CASE OF OFFICIALS VYING FOR POSITIONS YET THEY DONT KNOW THEIR ROLE PROFILES.WHAT AILS THE CLUB IS THAT SOME OFFICIALS AND FANS STILL THINK THAT GM IS A COMMUNITY/LUO CLUB AND ITS THEIR BIRTHRIGHT TO HAVE THEIR WAY.THIS MENTALITY LEADS TO PEOPLE CLINGING TO POSITIONS YET THEIR PERFOMANCE LEADS TO THE CLUB BECOMING THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE REGION.THE CHAIR AND SOME OFFICIALS EVEN ADDRESSES FANS IN LUO YET ALMOST HALF THE PLAYING UNIT NOW IS NOT FROM THE COMMUNITY.THE POINT HERE IS SIMPLE WE EITHER ADOPT PROFESSIONALISM&TRANSPARENCY IN THE WAY WE RUN THIS INSTITUTION OR WE CONTINUE WITH OUR LOCAL WAY OF RUNNING THINGS AS A VILLAGE CLUB.HOW CAN A CLUB THAT GETS 1 MILLION PER HOME GAME HAVE ITS OWN OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT IT IS BROKE? WHAT IS THE USE OF HAVING ELECTED OFFICIALS IF THEY CANNOT LOOK FOR WAYS OF EXPANDING OUR REVENUE BASE? SOME FANS AND OFFICIALS THINK THAT OUR HOME GAMES OFFERS THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SMOKE WHAT THEY WANT OR FLEECE THE CLUB BY PRINTING FAKE TICKETS IGNORING THE FACT THAT WE ARE GAMBLING WITH THE CAREERS OF YOUNG TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHOSE ONLY AVENUE OF SUCCESS IN LIFE MAY BE SOCCER.
Pundit@10, am so, am less of words .I thought this ZD guy was a Gor problem but have now known even ma shemeji wako ndani .What i would repeate and i will always say is sisi kama Ko’galo will remain respected if we remain together. imagine kesho when u wake up and being told we hv replaced u guyz with jo tol.i feel for us b cause of lack of togetherness we will take time to lead this beautiful country.am 2 b corrected.4 GOr forever.
@Ja Ngere what is jo tol? Why criticize officials for addressing the players and fans in luo yet we do it in this blog. Where is the difference between them and us? On ZD’s sacking from stars I believe it’s not something to celebrate. Without proper organisation even Kimanzi will face the same fate. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to see your former great wallowing in poverty ’cause you didn’t like him. I hope he gets another good club to coach since life has to continue. I belive his CV will work for him. Guys remember we used to redicule Ochola and now at SONY he is one of their best and almost spoilt our party last Sunday. Let’s treat GM as a family and when one succeeds in life or goes pro then we all support him. By the way how are we going to handle the long list of players who might leave us for greener pastures?
Jangere
Its unfortunate that i keep on diagreeing with your comments,please note that Gor Mahia is an international outfit and tribal sentiments are totally not welcomed in this blog.
ONLY THE VISION DRIVES A CLUB FORWARD
I think we all mean well for the club we so much love and cherish.
It is true the success of any organisation depend on the type of person at the helm. Take for instance a company like Safaricom. Not long ago, the company was only a department in the parent company, Telkom Kenya . Today it is one of successful companies in Kenya thanks to one genious, Micheal Joseph, simply known as MJ. In football I can mention Bob Munro. From MYSA, Mathare United FC was born. Today the club is playing in the KPL.
What these men have in common? Apart from sharing one skin colour, they are driven by a desire to succed. They also posses very high personal and professionall intergrity. They are team players constantly teaching the team to internalize the organization vision.
As we get near to the polls, let us election men and women of character who will steer this great club to another level of success. When the timeis ripe, I’ll offer myself for candidature. Meanwhile, let us fixed our eyes on the remaining fixtures.
its good that the bloggers are engaged in a healthy exchange of ideas/ ‘ideological warfare’.This war of ideas is good for kogallo.This goes to reaffirm what i have always said here,that the best brains in kogallo are to be found here at ‘bloggers branch’.Listening to various contributors vouching for their stands and vigorously defending their positions, one cannot help but admire and relish at the quality of debate here.Both sides of the divide ie dan/kosero/pareiyo axis and ogango/oduor12//wuonpap axis and their respective suppoters,have a valid point.
But one thing is certain,both these sets of opinions and their movers all mean well and want the best for the club,and by extension kenyan soccer.My only plea to fellow bloggers is let the debates remain issue-based and lets’ desist from name calling and personalisation of issues.I believe that we are laying a strong foundatiom for kogallo,through these candid exchange of ideas,positive criticism and,sober debates.
Meanwhile okoth jabilo please liase with the relevant individuals and bodies to fast-track the incorporation of bloggers branch as a bonafide branch of gor mahia.We cant wait to vote,hence have a direct say and influence decision making in ‘our’ club.
@ja ngere no14,.plz dont take us there.ur sentiments are,for lack of a better word….’sickening’.such tribal inuendos are not welcome here!
Comrades, some of your comments borders on tribal jingoism. GM is a revered entity within the African sub continent but what ails the club currently according to me is people who would like to be seen as the main shareholders of the club. Though the fan base is mainly from Jodhoot, let us not alienate some other fans who are willing to come and contribute towards the club’s great leap to professionalism.
On reading most posts here, one cannot help but feel some bloggers are on peoples payroll. I mean both sides of the divide. Whenever our chair or coach are mentioned, the reactions give one a feeling that there is no objective debate. Some openly criticize in order to kick them out, others defend them like it’s personal.
After watching our games this season, my conclusion is that we are not ready to face great African sides. Our defense is leaking, our midfield exists for only 20 minutes in a game and our forward line is one of the poorest in Kenya today. Have you seen any Gor striker in the race for golden boot?
My suggestions:
1. We can hire Hassan Shehata, the former Egypt coach who is free at the moment. If there is not enough money let us settle on Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee. I see his interest in Gor everyday and he has a proven record in Kenya and Africa.
2. Let us retain Zico as our defensive tactician. I believe that is where his strength lies.
3. Let us strive to retain the whole of our squad but add a goalie, buy Mieno, Olando and Rama Salim. Looking at our players, i feel many are raw talents that can be made to perform with proper guidance ie. Akumu, Moses Otieno and Odhiambo, Masika, Collins Okoth and Omondi, Lavatsa, Nasio, Ochomo, Kiplagat, Anguyo, Wekesa, Kevin Omondi, Musa Mohamed, Kevin Ochieng’, Jerim and any i may have forgotten. This squad is good, all are great talents.
I feel if we can do as above mentioned, this club will grow to unimaginable heights in three years.
Well said if all are in good faith.but just to inform some few that still thinks GM is a luo party.GM has grown and we hv to embrace friends of k’ogalo.
I can see the direction we want to take..we want reforms i may refer to as radical, not just for the sake of change but for the better.
I must mention that too along with others that change is unattainable without goodwill of the person at the helm hence we can never pretend to work towards achieving change without proper look at the person to lead us to it and more so without a stern gaze at those who have thwarted our quest for it (change) lest we replace them with a carbon copy.
I will revisit a comment i once made on this blog that we need not pressurize ourselves too much with the preoccupation of success lest we break ourselves up ‘unnecessarily’.
..i mean to say the team was growing by end of last season but underwent some ‘transformation’ and to which i believe we may need to give it time to pick momentum again..and with the rumored expected transfers i think we are heading to the rejuvenation mode..hence I’m pained to say..lets not really expect much..the team has been too dismantled to face Africa’s regulars..lets just play our part but without too much expectations lest we hurt ourselves.
I think Kogalo is in the next level because the current players if given fine tune they can go places as @20 creative village put it,if we can finds the likes of Rama Salim,Mieno,Mapunda we will go places.Since next year we shall be flying the country flag hope the office will find best institutions for physical training otherwise am happy with the team. let the (branches)offer some input to the club because next year I do hope we will return the cup back home.And to fans,those whom dont have passport please apply now coz the work has just started we will go to other country as usual Kogalo is global so arm yourself with PASSPORT.
PASSPORT WE HAVE .COMRADE.CANNOT WAIT 4 THE PARTY TO BEGIN.
IF WE HAVE THE LIKES OF JANGERE AS OPINON SHAPERS IN THIS INSTITUTION THEN GOR WILL BE THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD.THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS BLAME OTHERS-JO TOL,WITCHCRAFT FOR THEIR MISFORTUNE YET THEY NEVER PLANNED FOR SUCCESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.ASIANS CONTROL OUR ECONOMY AND THEY HAVE NEVER OCCUPIED THE HOUSE ON THE HILL YET THEY CALL THE SHORTS BY EMBRACING MODERNITY WHILE WE POINT FINGERS.CREATIVE VILLAGE AND OCAMPO ARE SHOWING US THE WAY FORWARD .THATS THE WAY TO GO.
My analysis from last night’s African Champions League Finals clash btwn Wydad and Esperenace the following is my take…
(a) You need two tactical formations to be successful in African club football (i) Away from home play ultra-defensive (kama zile za Zico) (ii) At home go for the jugular i.e. attack the opponent like your life depends on it.
(b) Our players need to be ultra-disciplined, especially while tackling if we are playing the North Africans. These guys dive like they are in Hollywood or the Olympics.
(c) Mpira ya thup thup is only effective in the KPL, huko ni karata, possession football is key. No aimless passes or you will surely be punished on the counter attack.
(d) lastly, fitness levels are extremely hire. Those guys run for 90 minutes and there is no abiria kwa team