Kenyan football giants Gor Mahia FC have officially appointed former Ghanaian international and ex-Black Stars coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor as their new head coach.
The 52-year-old has signed a two-year contract and will be supported by a Ghanaian technical team, as the club looks to rebuild after a turbulent season and aims for success in CAF inter-club competitions.
Akonnor, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career in Germany’s Bundesliga with Fortuna Köln and Wolfsburg before transitioning into coaching, brings a wealth of experience and tactical knowledge to Gor Mahia.
This new role marks his first coaching stint outside Ghana, where he previously managed top clubs such as Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, and AshantiGold, and also served as the national team head coach.
Supporting him on the technical staff are fellow Ghanaians Bismark Kobby-Mensah and Ben Owu, serving as assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer, respectively.
The club expressed confidence that Akonnor’s international exposure and seasoned expertise will significantly contribute to elevating Gor Mahia’s performance both domestically and continentally.
Akonnor’s coaching journey began at the Right to Dream Academy before he took charge of Eleven Wise and later Dreams FC, honing his skills in nurturing talent and building competitive teams.
Gor Mahia sees his appointment as a vital step in their rebuilding process, aiming to restore the club’s dominance and make a substantial impact in African football’s prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournaments.
The club’s welcoming announcement on social media highlighted their optimism: “The former Black Stars manager brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned tactician. Welcome to Mahia, Coach Akonnor.”
Akonnor joins the Kenyan side on a two-year deal until June 2027 after deciding to return to the dugout.
During his unveiling, CK emphasized the importance of building strong team cohesion.
“As for me, first of all, it is the chemistry of the players, strengthening the chemistry within the players,” he said. “They need to have that understanding, that love, that passion, that they will play together no matter what it is.”
Akonnor highlighted the need for tactical awareness and flexibility in approaching games.
“Every game will not be the same, so we need to understand tactical awareness of what we want to do,” he added. “This is Africa, and sometimes you go to a place where the field doesn’t favor you, so you need to adjust your style of play.”
The former Black Stars player also stressed the importance of player fitness.
“Their fitness will be very important,” he said. “They need to be fit to demonstrate what we’ve been doing in the past weeks and months on the field.”
The former Wolfsburg player previously managed Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak and AshantiGold.
Gor Mahia will be Akonnor;s first coaching stint outside Ghana.
The team is rebuilding after a turbulent season and aims to make a significant impact in CAF inter-club competitions.
With Akonnor’s expertise and leadership, fans have high hopes for the team’s future.
