Polack has identified new signings
With the imminent departure of certain key players, coach Polack is looking to strengthen the team ahead of the 2020-2021 season
Additional reporting from Goal
The British tactician reveals to Goal he has opened talks with new players he wants to be signed ahead of the new season
Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has revealed he has identified players he will sign for the club ahead of the new season.
K’Ogalo will be taking part in the Caf Champions League after being declared champions for the 2019-20 campaign after the league was ended owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus effect and will also chase the league and domestic Cup titles.
With that in mind, the British coach has confirmed to Goal he has already identified the areas he will work to strengthen and has gone ahead to engage the new signings who will be unveiled in due course.
“We talking to players in the Kenyan league, we are talking to a lot of Kenyan players and I will not give you the names or positions, just know we are in talks with several players and the talks are very positive for now.
“Let people know, and we have to do it a little more professional, about the transfers because if you start saying the names then everything might fail before they even sign, so we are not going to give names, we will let people know when the deals are done and I want to set the bar, we want to get them all signed first and then we unveil them in one press conference.”
Polack, however, took his time once again to hit out at Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and KPL officials for the uncertainty which is still surrounding the fate of last season.
“You know after the president said there is no social gathering, we are doing nothing, we are still in the dark, will the league continue, was the league ended? In fact, everyone is in the dark.
“Imagine after three months, FKF and KPL have refused to come out and tell us what is happening, we are all in the dark, we don’t know what is happening, it is not good at all for Kenyan football, something needs to be done, and it should be made public.”
While Gor Mahia will take part in the Champions League, Kenya will have no representative in the Caf Confederation Cup.
FKF set to unveil new sponsors for the league
FKF president Nick Mwendwa, who is vying for re-election and who is also intent on taking over the running of the KPL, has announced a deal with a new sponsor.
Additional reporting from the Nation
Bet King, a gaming company with strong roots in Nigeria, could be the new title sponsor of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), Nation Sport understands.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa, in his characteristic fashion, took to Twitter to announce that he had secured a multi million deal for Kenya’s top league.
“Today in history! Over 1.2 billion shillings for the FKF Premier League for 5 seasons,” he tweeted on Wednesday evening.
According to a reliable source, the new sponsor, who will be officially announced on Thursday morning, is Bet King, a company that was founded in 2017 and is fully established and running in Nigeria with Super Eagles legend Jay Jay Okocha as the main brand ambassador.
According to Mwendwa, who was just short of letting the cat out of the bag, the new deal will see each KPL clubs bag Sh8 million per season.
“At least Sh8 million for each club starting 2020/21 season ……..Vijana wacheze ball ! ” he tweeted.
The new deal was signed off on Wednesday evening at a popular hotel in Hurlingham, Nairobi.
Interesting to note is that the federation boss no longer refers to the top league as the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), but as the FKF Premier League.
KPL’s mandate to run the league expires in September and Mwendwa is on record saying they are not eager to renew the contract.
According to a reliable source, FKF has been in advanced talks with two prospective sponsors who were interested in securing the title rights for the top league.
For once we seem to have a coach in charge of recruitment of players.
If we retain our key players then we stand a chance of CAF group stage qualifications.
With the FKF (on this Kudos Nick) and Betsafe sponsorship Gor Mahia F.C can mount a serious challenge to qualify for at least the group stages of the CAF CL.
Time is of the essence, that why we need to elect officials who are professionally trained and qualified for the positions available.
Match the degree to the position otherwise it’s like expecting Messi to excel in the 3000 metres steeplechase against elite Kenyan runners.
A mismatched degree is of little value to GMFC or to any serious organization for that matter.
Most previous office bearers have shown an unacceptable level of incompetence and should be replaced where voters have an option.
Some aspirants are also targeting offices for which they have no professional training or experience.
Learning on the job and the accompanying mistakes is a costly adventure GMFC can ill afford at this time.
We need a legal mind ( we have 2 Rachier & Wasuna-) , a financial expert ( Chrispine Okoth) and a keen business mind/networking person ( Sam Ochola).
Choosing a social worker as a treasurer means that Rachier remains the defacto manager of GMFC finances in addition to the demanding job of Chairman.
If we think degree holders are the panacea to GMFC’s management woes then let’s try the best qualified persons for the positions. That said Bayern Munchen is administered by ex- players and is very successful, food for thought.
CUT DOWN SQUAD SIZE
Plan early for Africa champions league. Don’t end up with only 15 eligible players like last season
The window for handing in one’s candidature for the forthcoming elections closed this Friday 4pm and by close of business two candidates had no opposition I.e Ador for Chairman and Sam Ochola for Sec.Gen , the latter after Ngala in anticipation of a major thrashing courtesy of his agenda-less candidature decided to withdraw .
Remaining in the race is Wakili Wasunna and Sally Bollo for V.Chairman , Chris and Dolfina for Hon. Treasurer .
The role of a V.Chairman is to deputise the chairman and substansively should and must be someone who can seamlessly fill in , in the chairman’s absence , for whatever reason and this is a role Bolo CANNOT perform and she should join Ngala , Nyangi at wherever they will end up at , probably at some Ajua Club .
At the treasury , the good lady of Augmentin fund , whilst her association with the fundraising gesture is both laudable and appreciated , its not enough and so late in the day to be any convincing and in my humble opinion is opportunistic and vulture-istic , her continued association in her current capacity (GMAF) is welcome though , this leaves Chris as the one who fits the bill .
My opinion is driven by the fact that Gor Mahia in its present state needs individuals who with or without Gor have made a name for themselves and are in it for purely altruistic reasons and not for basic survival .
@Ngesto , its true that the playing unit should be whittled down to not more than 25players , ofcourse this was not possible in the outgoing EC because most of the unreasonable excess signings were purely transactional in nature , with members of the EC sharing in the sign on fee and sharing in the salaries of the largely idle excess players , the same thing the Wazito boss found out albeit late , this again is one reason why am so much anti malnourished candidates in elections , because they see Gor Mahia , not as a business to be expanded but as an employment bureau .
1) Wasuna- defended GMFC against Innocent Mutiso, Crispin Odula and others at the Sports Dispute Tribunal. As for Bolo she started being active when the Betsafe sponsorship was sealed. Her dismal performance as Treasurer is too recent and still fresh in our memories.
2) As for Dolfina since she squirmed her way, into Augmentin as an official in late March2020, the fund has only made one payment towards players & TB welfare and that was in mid April2020 yet the fund is continuously receiving contributions.
It would be sad if she is financing her campaign using monies meant for players & TB welfare.
But more importantly she is not even the treasurer of GMAF. Her qualifications and experience don’t match the position she seeks.
HOW DOES SHE EXPECT TO EXECUTE THE DEMANDING RESPONSIBILITIES OF GMFC TREASURER?
She is totally mismatched for the position she seeks doing only slightly better than KCPE holder Nyangi.
Best option is Rachier, Wasuna,Sam Ochola and Christine Okoth.
The incoming office has their plate full , first being Professionalising the Club and positioning it as a business entity , a task that the outgoing office led by Rachier have failed to do , for reasons that are for another day .
For this to happen , the two most important components of the club I.e the EC and the fanbase must play their part , the playing unit/technical bench will be a consequence of the former .
The new office must be transparent , accountable and progressive a consequence that will bring back PAYING FANS -In large numbers to the stadias .
The new office must also as a matter of urgency get rid of the bloodsucking “fans” from anywhere near the club , they must be fumigated , isolated and rigorous contact tracing implemented otherwise all good intentions will come to nought e.g one may have the most classic guesthouse but if it has mattresses Infested with bedbugs , not a single client will sign up and on this I have in mind the hooligans , the “stewards ” and the Gor Mahia branded corona mask selling Jaro Sojas-All these MUST GO.
Attending Gor matches should revert to a family affair and not a helmet wearing escapade .
Admin…. What was wrong with what I posted??ain’t I entitled to an opinion?? Nkt!!!
Jaro Soja must go? ????
At least we will not be having bloated office with busybody officials that have zero qualifications to articulate strategies of the club in the short-medium-long term. I am very excited that both Nyangi and Ngala are out and the next should be Bolo who perpetuated stealing at the gate and fraudulent claims with a clear case that was witnessed in Nakuru when fans had hired ambulance but she presented claim of the ambulance.