Kenyan Premier League side Gor Mahia has once again switched to their successful traditions with English coaches after naming former Southampton player Mark Harrison as the new head coach to replace the departed Carlos Manuel vaz Pinto.
Vaz Pinto left the club last month after reaching an amicable decision with the club and has since found a new job at his native Portugal with a second division outfit.
The new coach Harrison arrived in the country on Saturday and had a glimpse of the team for the first time when they faced AFC Leopards in a friendly match. He was introduced to the team and unveiled on Monday evening.
He is expected to start work as the club’s new head coach on Tuesday.
“We settled on him because of his experience especially having worked in this continent before so it will not be hard for him to settle in. We are confident that he can steer the club back to the top,” said Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier.
The tactician has a huge task to ensure the team finishes the season strongly after struggling and failing to win their last eight matches.
New coach Harrison being unveiled by Gor Mahia chair Ambrose Rachier
Meanwhile, Sammy Omollo who was holding forte after the departure of vaz Pinto will continue in the same role under the Briton.
“We met on Saturday and got off to a very amicable start. As the technical bench we will give him all the necessary support he needs to settle in as well as guide the team in the remaining games of the season,” Omollo stated.
The 60-year old has coached in Africa before, having worked in South Africa with Chippa United and Golden Arrows, Zimbabwe’s Harare City and Highlanders FC, as well as Botswana’s Township Rollers. He has had playing spells with English giants Hull CIty and Southampton and also had stints with Port Vale, Stafford Rangers among others.
Gor have had quite some success with British coaches and most of their tacticians over the last 15 years have been of English origin. Hassan Oktay was the most recent figure, the Turkish-Briton having coached the outgoing champions for one season then leaving at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before him there was Dylan Kerr, Frank Nuttall and Bobby Williamson, all of who have had varied success at the club. Gor expect the tactician to continue in the same breath of success, though a tough challenge awaits him.
New Gor coach Mark Harrison
Gor have had a tough season and they were docked three points over the weekend following their failure to play the Mashemeji Derby, to fall further lower in the standings.
Apart from issues surrounding their performance this season, Gor have struggled with off pitch issues including financial struggles. Players have often whisked away on go slows over unpaid salaries.
The club has also lost its best player, Midfielder Kenneth Muguna who has joined Tanzanian giants Azam FC. Charles Momanyi has also left the club and has joined Tusker FC. The new tactician Harrison will have a full intray, including bringing the motivation back to the team and building a new side for next season’s assault on the league and continental football.
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