Premium
I'm here to help Gor Mahia reclaim lost glory, declares new coach Akonnor
Newly appointed Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor.
What you need to know:
- Akonnor, who beat 173 coaches who applied for the job, said he has set his sights on restoring Gor’s past glory.
- The Ghanaian national assumed the role following Gor Mahia’s decision to disband its technical bench last month.
Gor Mahia’s new coach, Charles Kwabla Akonnor from Ghana, has declared his ambition of steering the 21-time Kenyan champions back to the glory of yesteryears.
Speaking on Friday after he was unveilled by the club in Nairobi, the former Ghana national team coach acknowledged that his immediate task at the club is to make the team great again on the continent. Akonnor takes the position on a two-year contract.
Akonnor, who beat 173 coaches who applied for the job at the club, said he has set his sights on restoring Gor’s past glory.
“I will be working with all stakeholders to achieve my target for the club. We shall all work together to ensure this great club wins titles locally and continentally,” said Akonnor.
Read: Wantaway coach, unflinching assistants, and training ground burst-up: How Gor’s season fell apart
He said he will prioritise talent growth at K’Ogalo’s camp and thus will pay much attention to the K’Ogalo Youth team.
"Having a good youth team in place is very important for the club and that is one area l am keen on. Developing players through the ranks is quite vital and l am a believer in working through the stages to achieve the best, not quick fixes for success,” he added.
Also on Gor’s new technical bench, the club’s management announced on Friday, is Kobi Mensah Bismark who will deputise Akonnor.
Ghanaian Ben Owu is the team’s new goalkeeper trainer, while Brian Odongo takes over as the team doctor.
Disbanded technical bench
The new members of the team’s technical bench were announced on Friday in a ceremony attended by, among others, the club’s chairman Ambrose Rachier.
Akonnor has assumed the role following Gor’s decision to disband its technical bench, led by Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, on July 3 following a disappointing season.
Otieno has since joined Tanzania Prisons while his assistant at Gor, Michael Nam, is head coach of the newly promoted FKF-PL side APS Bomet.
The 51-year-old Akonnor had an illustrious career having managed Ghana from 2020-2021. As a player he turned out for Ghana in 51 matches scoring 13 goals.
Apart from playing for Ghana’s national team, he has also played for German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg, where took part in 121 matches between 1998 and 2003.
Akonnor coached Ghanaian clubs Hearts of Oak, Ashanti Gold, and Asante Kotoko before taking charge of Ghana’s national team.
Gor Mahia's new technical bench has arrived in time as they are expected to hit the ground running with pre-season training ahead of the 2025/26 season set to kick off in September.
