Gor Mahia’s new coach, Croatian Sinisa Mihic, is not perturbed by the weight of expectations on his shoulders as he takes over coaching duties at the club.
Speaking soon after being unveiled on Monday in Nairobi, the 48-year-old vowed to make the 21-time Kenyan champions proud and great again in Africa through strong performances locally and abroad. The 48-year-old, Croatian coach has joined the 21-time Kenyan champions on a six-month contract.
“Gor Mahia is one of the best teams in East Africa, and I am so honoured and proud that I am here with you,” Mihic, who also holds Italian citizenship, said. He holds Uefa Pro License, a qualification that allows coaches to work in European national football leagues, and is a mandatory requirement for coaches who want to work at the highest level of football.
“I like to work under pressure. Pressure is motivation for me because if you play without fans, you don’t have the drive (for success), so I like it. I will absorb this by my focus, determination and professional standards,” he said, perhaps in reference to Gor Mahia fans. Gor’s fans, popularly known as ‘Green Army”, are known to be overbearing and hard to please.
“I will make them (Gor fans) proud again and I want them to be with us to the maximum. I need 12 players on the pitch. I know they don’t just love the club, but they live for it. I know sometimes they are angry if things don’t go on well, or when the results are not what they expect but it is just a game…I want them to be strong with us, put pressure on us because players who cannot accept the pressure and expectations of the fans cannot be at Gor Mahia. It is the same case with the coach, so I welcome them. I am sure that after a short time they will love us, and they will love me,” Mihic said.
He replaces Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, Gor’s former player who has served as the club’s interim coach since November 13 following the sacking of Brazilian coach Leonardo Neiva over poor results.
Otieno now reassumes his former role as the club’s assistant coach alongside Michael Nam. Mihic, who honed his coaching skills with youth teams in Croatia, said he will work with both young and experienced players at Gor Mahia.
“I grew up in football coaching, working with youths so this is what I like. But you cannot play without older players who have greater experience, so a good mix is the best,” he said, adding that he already feels at home in Kenya due to the favourable climate and hospitality of Kenyans. Mihic’s 25-year coaching career has taken him to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Sudan.
His last work station was at four-time Kuwait Premier League champions Al-Salmiya Sporting Club, where he served as an assistant coach from February 12 to 28 in 2022. He previously served as head coach of Croatian league sides NK Crikvenica, Al-Shabaab, and Al-Fahaheel SC.
Mihic has also coached Al-Ahli Saudi FC of Saudi Arabia. He was an assistant coach at Libyan side Al-Nasr SC, and Al-Merrikh SC of Sudan.
Gor’s chairman Ambrose Rachier said Mihic is on probation, and a decision to extend his contract will depend on his performance at the end of the season. Mihic faces the daunting task of guiding Gor to a successful defense of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) title.
K’Ogalo are currently placed third in the league standings with 31 points from 18 matches. Kenya Police FC are top with 37 points, same as Tusker who have an inferior goal difference. Both Police and Tusker have played a game more than the other teams.
