The trophyless 2024/25 season by Gor Mahia, a rare occurrence for a club with a record 21 Kenyan Premier League titles and 11 FKF President’s Cups, offers critical lessons for the club’s future.
After their loss of the FKF Premier League to Kenya Police FC and a shock 2-1 defeat to Nairobi United in the FKF Cup final, Gor Mahia is set to sack its entire technical bench following a disappointing season, a move that already cost them the FKF title earlier this year.
Goalkeepers’ trainer Boniface Oluoch is the only member likely to be retained as the club plots a major overhaul.
To avoid a repeat of such a terrible season, Gor Mahia will have to learn from the numerous mistakes they made this season.
Squad Quality and Recruitment Issues
The season exposed deficiencies in Gor Mahia’s squad, described by many as the weakest in recent years despite several signings.
Also Read: Nairobi United Beats Gor Mahia 2-1 in Thrilling Final
Former coach Sinisa Mihic highlighted the need for quality attacking players, criticising the lack of depth or firepower up front.
Even though the Gor Mahia board listened to his ideas, they fired Mihic mid-season, recruiting and building a squad before appointing a new coach.
This led to a team that didn’t align with a cohesive tactical style of play after the signing of Zedekiah Otieno as the new Gor Mahia Head Coach.
Gor Mahia Internal Instability
Boardroom conflicts and internal sabotage disrupted the team’s morale and performance. The departure of coach Sinisa Mihic after just three months, coupled with interference from interim coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno, distracted the team.
Close sources to the club leadership pointed out a “hooligan mentality” among club leaders, including Otieno and chairman Ambrose Rachier, which greatly contributed to poor decision-making during crucial times in the season.
Over-Reliance on Reputation
Gor Mahia has come under serious criticism since the beginning of the 2024/25 FKF season, with die-hard fans responding to X posts by K’ogalo criticising Gor Mahia’s dull approach, noting the team played as if their historical dominance guaranteed success, failing to adapt to hungrier, well-prepared opponents.
Despite their pedigree, Gor Mahia underestimated opponents, notably second-tier Nairobi United in the FKF Cup final, and unexpected draws against KCB FC, Muranga Seal, Bidco United and Sofapaka.
The most shocking was Gor Mahia losing to Talanta FC, Nairobi City Stars (twice), and Bidco United in the second leg.
In all these games against ‘inferior’ opponents, the lack of a well-planned style of play by the Gor players and the lack of a finishing move were evident.
Missed Opportunities for Redemption
After losing the league to Kenya Police FC, the FKF Cup was Gor Mahia’s last chance to secure continental football (CAF Confederation Cup).
The 2-1 loss to Nairobi United, with Ben Stanley Omondi losing a penalty in the 86th minute, underscored their inability to make use of critical moments.
Fan Pressure
Fan pressure has been a defining factor for Gor Mahia during their trophyless 2024/25 season, amplifying the club’s challenges and exposing the weight of expectations from their passionate supporter base.
Gor Mahia’s fans are accustomed to success, with the club’s 1987 African Cup Winners’ Cup victory and consistent domestic dominance setting a high bar.
Learning from Underdog Success
K’ogalo must adopt a resilient mindset and be open to midseason adjustments, such as timely coaching changes or tactical shifts, to recover from setbacks.
Also Read: Etienne Ndayiragije: The Man Who Led Kenya Police FC to a Historic League Title
Kenya Police FC, newly promoted to the top tier in 2021, transformed from relegation contenders to champions.
After a poor start, with only one win and one draw in seven matches, the appointment of Burundian coach Etienne Ndayiragije in November 2024 sparked a remarkable turnaround.
Nairobi United, a second-tier side, stunned Gor Mahia in the FKF Cup final with a 2-1 victory. Coach Nicholas Muyoti emphasized a “winning mentality” and post-match analysis to refine tactics, which helped them defeat top-flight teams like Tusker and KCB en route to the final.
With a planned technical overhaul and a renewed focus on humility and preparation, Gor Mahia has the opportunity to restore their storied legacy and passionate fanbase to reclaim their place at the pinnacle of Kenyan football in the 2025/26 season.
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