K’Ogalo’s dominance of local football is an indictment of how poor our local league has become and not how good the club is
BY DAVID ONJILI
Napsa United of Zambia drew Gor Mahia FC two all in the return fixture of the Confederations of African Football (CAF) Cup. A match characterized by open protest from the Gor Mahia players after the opponents were awarded a dubious penalty deep in injury time.
Emmanuel Mayuka’s goal from the spot kick ensured that the Kenyan champions were out of continental fixtures before even making it past the group stages. Gor Mahia had lost he first leg in Nairobi a fortnight back by a solitary goal. This saw them get eliminated by 3 to 2 on aggregate as their rivals advanced to the group stage of the competition.
The early exit from continental football has hurt many of their fans, as it has exposed the glaring decline in both administrative and football standards at the club. Gor Mahia continues to dominate the local soccer stage. Winning the domestic league has never been in doubt for the club, in fact it is an expectation. The club and its fans have grown a swagger and arrogance that is justified. You just have to listen to them online or during games.
Many had expected the team to now seek to stamp their mark on the Continent. Sadly, going by recent activities at the club, the Nelson Mandela Cup they won in 1987 will remain their highest climb at football glory. So where has the club been going wrong?
In November last year, Gor Mahia was to travel to Kigali Rwanda to face APR Rwanda. The team lacked a basic requirement – tracksuits and had to be bailed out by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). It was both a sad and shameful indictment that a club of such rich history did not even have tracksuits. A week later, Nairobi based management consultant, Eliud Owalo donated several tracksuits to the club – papering a crack, and joining in, in a continuing trend at the club where short-term solutions are offered to fix cracks and not long-term solutions for prosperity.
A few months ago, Gor Mahia led by their patron, Hon Raila Odinga made the headlines after Two Rivers Mall owned business mogul Chris Kirubi allowed the club to use their ultra-modern facilities. The move was hailed as one of the steps the club was embarking on in a bid to have their players train with the latest facilities. Interestingly, not a month passe by and there were reports of salary delays at the club – a common occurrence amongst clubs in the local soccer scene. This irony posed and helped poke holes into the administration of the club. It is not a secret that the players have not been able to train at the facility in many instances.
Compare the administration of the club to Tanzanian league winners Simba SC. The contrast is as huge as day and night. The club, owned by Tanzanian billionaire Mohamed Dewji is professionally run. Players’ salaries and allowances are paid in time. Training and kitting are done professionally, the welfare of the players is top priority and handled professionally. The club plays some of the best teams across the Continent in tournaments to elevate their standards. All this is down to heavy investment and planning by the management of the club.
Gor Mahia on the other hand runs like an individual’s property. Club chairman, Senior Counsel Ambrose Rachier is bereft of ideas. The club does not have a recognized merchandise shop. If you want the club’s replica, you are left in the hands of brokers and conmen who are benefitting from this loophole to sell the same merchandise in collusion with some unscrupulous club officials. Whenever the club has been signing or unveiling their players, clowns and hangers on in the name of club loyalists have run the show. Making the event a mockery of professionalism. The outcry from the fans has been loud but no positive change forthcoming.
Looking at the caliber of players at the club currently, and comparing to the era of Abou Sibomana, Michael Olunga, Khalid Aucho, Dan Sserunkuma, it is clear that the club has moved backwards. Their dominance of local football is an indictment of how poor our local league has become and not how good Gor Mahia is. You have to look at their dismal performances in continental football to get your answer.
Despite the constant fan outrage, there has never been an organized group to come out with a clear way forward for the club. The tokenism hat prevails amongst club loyalists has ‘chased away’ well-meaning soccer lovers who would wish to move the club forward. As it stands, Gor Mahia is a ship deep in the ocean without a sextant, it is at the mercy of ocean waves called Ambrose Rachier. As years go by, the leaks keep allowing water into the ship, and it is sinking.
There are a few people on the upper deck making merry, sadly, like the Titanic, the end is imminent. Unless the club stakeholders – the fans, register in large numbers, attend the club’s AGM and chart a new path, the club that has brought this nation so much glory will be another relic. Will the Green Army faithful allow this? Time will tell..
