{"id":15347,"date":"2019-11-11T03:24:29","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T03:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/?p=15347"},"modified":"2019-11-11T04:02:06","modified_gmt":"2019-11-11T04:02:06","slug":"give-polack-stability-and-he-can-work-wonders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/news\/give-polack-stability-and-he-can-work-wonders\/","title":{"rendered":"Give Polack stability and he can work wonders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"\/
Polack has worked in a difficult environment. Give him stability and he will deliver trophies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gor Mahia coach Steve Polack was a happy man after Gor Mahia’s 4-1 demolition of arch rivals AFC Leopards. It marked the first time either team has scored four goals since 1975 when Gor Mahia hammered their rivals, then known as Abaluhya FC 5-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m over the moon. It is unbelievable after a scrappy first half, we ended up winning. I\u2019m really proud of my players. They showed the true character of a champion. The half-time pep-talk won it for us,\u201d said a delighted Polack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polack showed yet again that he knows how to get the best out of his players. Gor Mahia were below par in the first half and Polack read them the riot act at halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHonestly speaking, in the first half, we were very poor, we were very awful and we did not deserve to come out 0-0,\u201d Polack told goal.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut when we went into the dressing room, I challenged my players to \nbring out what they were hiding in the first half. I shouted at them, I \nwas almost throwing bottles at them and I guess it worked for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a good display in the second half as we controlled the match from the first whistle. The half-time talk proved the difference because I sensed the style AFC Leopards were playing and asked my players to try another route, put the ball down and avoid long balls.\u201d he continued <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stellar second half display shows that given a modicum of stability, Polack can get the best out of his players. He has shown this before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polack arrived right before the first leg against Aigles of Burundi. Many coaches would have sat the match out. Polack took charge immediately. He studied his opponents and come the second leg, Kogalo destroyed the Burundian side 5-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airing bad news<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Things have not been rosy at Kogalo this season. And Polack has not been shy about airing the bad news. For one thing Polack had to make do with a limited number of players. Key players like Yikpe, Miheso and Afiriyie were not registered for continental football. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

” I said earlier, when you have things which are disturbing you mentally it doesn\u2019t help, like having only 16 fit players and we have three goalkeepers and it means you have 14 players to play, and when you ask me if I don\u2019t have enough players to play in several positions whom I am supposed to play?” posed Polack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine having a player available in local matches but not available for continental football. This makes it difficult to test your game plan in real game situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polack has had to deal with players going AWOL. Joash Onyango and Kenneth Muguna went missing before the match against Motema Pembe while the entire team boycotted training before the match against Mathare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet Polack continues to keep the club afloat. Give him a stable playing unit and he can take the club into the stratosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans don’t want to hear bad news? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gor Mahia went through an entire week that was nothing but bad news. from being eliminated from continental football, to losing their unbeaten record, unpaid wages and former players predicting doom and gloom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach Polack was not shy about discussing the problems but neither was this blog. One blogger actually asked this author to stop posting negative stories. But sweeping bad news under the carpet doesn’t solve the problem. If the players still can’t pay their bills due to unpaid wages. As such they may not be in the right frame of mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact they were clearly not in the right frame of mind in the derby until Polack read them the riot act at halftime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t get carried away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The 4-1 against their rivals could lead fans to think that all the problems facing the club have been washed away. In reality the club EC must continue to work diligently to ensure that the playing unit is motivated. The fans must also do their part even if it means contributing directly to the club. Chairman Rachier can increase fan participation by enhancing transparency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yikpe with a virtuoso performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not much had been seen of the towering Ivorian Yikpe Gnamien since he arrived. Fans had been waiting with bated breath to see what the towering Ivorian was capable. Some fans had written him off, declaring that the foreign signings have been a let down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But his commanding performance against Ingwe must have silenced any naysayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First his powerful header nearly decapitated the Ingwe defender who tried the goal line save with his head. Legendary heading specialist Peter Dawo would have been proud. That header was similar to the first one he scored against AS Dragons of Benin in 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Yikpe initiated his second goal by fending off a both a defender and the touchline. Then he found Miheso with a precise pass. Miheso in turn squared back to The Ivorian who scored with a clinical finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His celebration was one of raw emotion as if he was saying that all his efforts have finally paid off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am very happy for the player, He works very hard in training and it was good for him to open his account. He has always deserved to score and today [Sunday] it was his day, I am very happy for him.\u201d said coach Polack about the Ivorian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yikpe is a baller. The fans will need to play their part in helping Gor Mahia fend off the advances of our Dar es Salaam neighbours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class all around<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It was a total team effort. No player deserves more ecredit than the others. But some moments from this match will be seared in the memory of fans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly Miheso’s rocket that resulted in the 3rd goal. It left the Ingwe goalkeeper hapless. This after his sublime pass to Yikpe had resulted in the second goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the 4th goal. Boniface Omondi sold a dummy the Ingwe defender chasing shadows. He then sent a precise pass to wide open Lawrence Juma who made no mistake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gor Mahia coach Steve Polack was a happy man after Gor Mahia’s 4-1 demolition of arch rivals AFC Leopards. It marked the first time either team has scored four goals since 1975 when Gor Mahia hammered their rivals, then known as Abaluhya FC 5-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m over the moon. It is unbelievable after a scrappy first half, we ended up winning. I\u2019m really proud of my players. They showed the true character of a champion. The half-time pep-talk won it for us,\u201d said a delighted Polack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polack showed yet again that he knows how to get the best out of his players. Gor Mahia were below par in the first half and Polack read them the riot act at halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHonestly speaking, in the first half, we were very poor, we were very awful and we did not deserve to come out 0-0,\u201d Polack told goal.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut when we went into the dressing room, I challenged my players to \nbring out what they were hiding in the first half. I shouted at them, I \nwas almost throwing bottles at them and I guess it worked for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a good display in the second half as we controlled the match from the first whistle. The half-time talk proved the difference because I sensed the style AFC Leopards were playing and asked my players to try another route, put the ball down and avoid long balls.\u201d he continued <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stellar second half display shows that given a modicum of stability, Polack can get the best out of his players. He has shown this before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polack arrived right before the first leg against Aigles of Burundi. Many coaches would have sat the match out. Polack took charge immediately. He studied his opponents and come the second leg, Kogalo destroyed the Burundian side 5-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Polack in Bujumbura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Airing bad news<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Things have not been rosy at Kogalo this season. And Polack has not been shy about airing the bad news. For one thing Polack had to make do with a limited number of players. Key players like Yikpe, Miheso and Afiriyie were not registered for continental football. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said earlier, when you have things which are disturbing you mentally it doesn\u2019t help, like having only 16 fit players and we have three goalkeepers and it means you have 14 players to play, and when you ask me if I don\u2019t have enough players to play in several positions whom I am supposed to play?” posed Polack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine having a player available in local matches but not available for continental football. This makes it difficult to test your game plan in real game situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polack has had to deal with players going AWOL. Joash Onyango and Kenneth Muguna went missing before the match against Motema Pembe while the entire team boycotted training before the match against Mathare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet Polack continues to keep the club afloat. Give him a stable playing unit and he can take the club into the stratosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans don’t want to hear bad news? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gor Mahia went through an entire week that was nothing but bad news. from being eliminated from continental football, to losing their unbeaten record, unpaid wages and former players predicting doom and gloom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach Polack was not shy about discussing the problems but neither was this blog. One blogger actually asked this author to stop posting negative stories. But sweeping bad news under the carpet doesn’t solve the problem. If the players still can’t pay their bills due to unpaid wages. As such they may not be in the right frame of mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact they were clearly not in the right frame of mind in the derby until Polack read them the riot act at halftime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t get carried away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The 4-1 against their rivals could lead fans to think that all the problems facing the club have been washed away. In reality the club EC must continue to work diligently to ensure that the playing unit is motivated. The fans must also do their part even if it means contributing directly to the club. Chairman Rachier can increase fan participation by enhancing transparency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yikpe with a virtuoso performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not much had been seen of the towering Ivorian Yikpe Gnamien since he arrived. Fans had been waiting with bated breath to see what the towering Ivorian was capable. Some fans had written him off, declaring that the foreign signings have been a let down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But his commanding performance against Ingwe must have silenced any naysayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First his powerful header nearly decapitated the Ingwe defender who tried the goal line save with his head. Legendary heading specialist Peter Dawo would have been proud. That header was similar to the first one he scored against AS Dragons of Benin in 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Yikpe initiated his second goal by fending off a both a defender and the touchline. Then he found Miheso with a precise pass. Miheso in turn squared back to The Ivorian who scored with a clinical finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His celebration was one of raw emotion as if he was saying that all his efforts have finally paid off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am very happy for the player, He works very hard in training and it was good for him to open his account. He has always deserved to score and today [Sunday] it was his day, I am very happy for him.\u201d said coach Polack about the Ivorian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yikpe is a baller. The fans will need to play their part in helping Gor Mahia fend off the advances of our noisy Dar es Salaam neighbours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class all around<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It was a total team effort. No player deserves more credit than the others. But some moments from this match will be seared in the memory of fans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly Miheso’s rocket that resulted in the 3rd goal. It left the Ingwe goalkeeper hapless. This after his sublime pass to Yikpe had resulted in the second goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the 4th goal. Boniface Omondi sold a dummy that left the Ingwe defender Kiyegon chasing shadows. He then sent a precise pass to wide open Lawrence Juma who made no mistake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another player who earned reviews was Bernard Ondiek who despite being played out of position at full back, acquitted himself well. The full back positions have been problematic for Kogalo especially due to injuries to key players Shafiq Butambuze , Philemon Otieno and now Wellington Ochieng is injured again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Match Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n