Gor Mahia coach Charles ‘Otete’ Akonnor on Tuesday said that, although the club was on the right track to reclaim the FKF Premier League title with nine matches to go, they could not afford to rest on their laurels yet.
Cruising Gor lead the league standings on 56 points from 25 matches, seven points above their nearest rivals, AFC Leopards.
Notably, whenever Gor Mahia sit atop the league table in December, they go on to win the league, as in 2023/24, 2022/23, and at the height of their unmatched success between 2013-2020.
It was only in 2016 that they relinquished their lead to Tusker after December, finishing second to the brewers that season.
Speaking to Nation Sport, the widely-travelled Ghanaian coach, who also captained and later coached Ghana’s Black Stars, urged the club fans to continue supporting the team as they chased after a record-extending 22nd title.
“It is still too early to say we have won the title because nine matches are many and the point gap between AFC Leopards and us is seven, so we can’t drop our guard. We must win as many matches as possible,” said Akonnor.
The former Asante Kotoka and Heart of Oaks coach said not even the Mashemeji derby could decide the title race, as other teams were just as tough.
Gor and their sworn arch rivals are scheduled to face off in the second leg on April 26, a fixture that will likely play a big part in deciding this season’s champion.
“All teams play Gor Mahia with a tougher mentality and it is a big test when we play Leopards and Shabana because of their huge fan base just like ours. That is why I can’t say a single game can decide for us the title but we have to be in a good position to win the title before the game against Leopards,” added the 52-year-old tactician.
Asked what he feels he has achieved since joining Gor at the start of the season, Akonnor says the club now plays possession-based football and he has built the confidence of younger players.
“Look at players like Brighton Onyona and Paul Ochuoga, very young but are now playing with a lot of confidence and locking out opponents on our defence. Fans complain that we don’t shoot but it is my style of play that we have to advance with the ball inside the box. We have to entertain them with short passes because football doesn’t have to be boring. However, we have always done this when not chasing the game.”
Gor’s remaining league fixtures are against Tusker, Kariobangi Sharks, Bandari, Kakamega Homeboyz, AFC Leopards, Murangá Seal, Kenya Police, Mara Sugar and Nairobi United.
Akonnor, at the same time, conceded that coaching K’Ogalo is the toughest job he has had in his career due to a lot of pressure.
“Gor Mahia fans don’t accept losing matches,” he said.
On the Kenyan league, he said, there is a lot of competition, the facilities have since been improved but there is still a lot to be done in talent development.
“Ghana is a football powerhouse because the country focuses on talent search, nurturing and development from a young age, all through the ranks. Kenya has talent but if the effort were to be put in youth football, then the country can go far.
“The league is good as even smaller teams play to upset established clubs. With that competition and efforts put on talent nurturing, KPL can be the best in Africa,” he said.
Nicknamed "Otete" by Gor fans, Akonnor can only hope that the winning momentum he currently enjoys carries to the end of the season.
