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that he took the reins of Kenya's most decorated club the coach has built a formidable side
Undefeated in SportPesa Premier League (SPL), still alive in the National Cup as well as the CAF Confederations Cup, 2018 could be one of the most memorable years in Gor's history Mahia.
The 1987 campaign in which the club swept the league, the cup and now the highs of the Cup Winners' Cup (Mandela Cup) remains the benchmark of the glorious success of the 16-season national champions.
While a 17th title remains in sight for the team taking advantage of a 12-point lead at the top of the SPL after accumulating 52 points in 20 games with three games in hand against his closest opponent Sofapaka, K Ogalo is in the eighth of the SportPesa Shield Cup and in good shape to seal a spot in the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederations Cup in Group D.
However, not everything is rosy at K 'Ogalo, the team oscillating from one crisis to the other almost as often as the sun comes up, the last shot being freezing their account on a Sh128m invoice due to Kenya Revenue. Authority.
A fortnight ago Gor was forced to apologize to the regional football governing body after his boys boycotted the bronze medal after defeating Jeshi La Kujenga Uchumi from Zanzibar 2-0 at the Cecafa Kagame Cup 2018 to protest against being denied a share of the Sh1m prize for winning the match for third place in the tournament.
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After the controversial transfer of Rwanda's popular and international attacker, Meddie Kagere, to Tanzanian giants Simba SC who were also trying to engage star midfielder, Francis Kahata, in moves who shook the unit of play at the base.
During their unfortunate trip to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania to honor Cecafa's tournament, grim reports surfaced where the club was accused of rejecting their hotel and the cloakroom that had been assigned to them before their half -final the loss of eventual Azam champions on superb claims of witchcraft intermingled with claims of unrest over the non-payment of premiums that have simmered for months.
The players deprived of their rights took over the club claiming that they had not received their share of the Sh27m received by the club for the Confed Cup group stages, Sh4.5m to have won the 2017 SPL and Sh3m for winning a second SportPesa Super Cup crown last month in Nakuru.
Add a list of choking devices that saw the team play an average of one game every 2.73 days in the last two months to the toxic mix to get the perfect ingredients of a crisis club.
British of Maltese origin
Nevertheless, the team has not imploded and continues to set national standards in obtaining victorious results, including without defeat on Kenyan soil since the beginning of the year 2018, thanks to the work of one man, Dylan Kerr.
The 51-year-old retired English-speaking professional footballer, born in Malta, was an oasis of calm in the desert storm that mired local giants, achieving the incredible feat of delivering massive performances to his players while running his teams. like a kid who takes his turn in the wheel of fortune.
Since arriving at K & Ogalo in July of last year, Kerr has only lost one SPL game, a 0-1 loss to Mathare United in October, completing a rare doubled against the team that swept everyone to recover the crown. from 2016 the winners Tusker.
"I felt disoriented when I joined Gor.C is because the team is a big club with a rich history and because of that, I said that I would not be motivated by money but by the desire to build a good team that can be a force in African football, as he was preparing his team to travel to Tanzania for the return match. of the Confed Cup today.
The success of Williamson
The kind, witty and sometimes arrogant Englishman attributes to one of his predecessors, the Scottish Bobby Williamson, who broke the league's success in 2013 in 18 years, for the 39 to have presented to the team the following year. take over from the national team Harambee Stars.
"Williamson was my former Scottish Premier League manager, Kilmarnock, who loved me and because of the cordial relationship, he decided to connect me to Gor when he left for Harambee. Stars, "said Kerr.
However, the coach who made him love K's faithful Ogalo when he tattooed the club's crest on his leg, which he's too proud to show after winning the title, had to wait before taking his place in the Gor heated seat of management.
"The delay was because I had a contract with Tanzania's Simba SC that was still running, I had to finish it before moving to Kenya," revealed Kerr with Scottish Frank Nutall who won the 2014 and 2015 championship titles, The latter undefeated and ex-Brazilian international, Jose Marcelo & # 39; Ze Maria & # 39; Ferreira takes the lead before finally taking over.
The former English Premier League teams, Sheffield Wednesday FC, Leeds United FC and Reading FC defender may not have sounded most Kenyans before his arrival, but now he has become One of the most recognizable figures. in the local game after his dazzling success.
His first match was at the National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on July 13 as his new team ran EPL Everton's heavyweights before Kieran Dowell hit eight minutes later. In a match where the former England captain, Wayne Rooney, opened the scoring.
"This performance gave the team confidence and that helped Gor to go home and win the title." I told players that they can be the best and the best. credit, they listened and continued to make history, "recalled the tactician.
The loss of captain, most senior player and defender Musa Mohammed and Kennyn Muguna, who had become the linchpin of his team during the closed season, could have scuttle the side, but Kerr took over. pieces and soldier on.
"I set my standards and developed my philosophy and work ethic, and I'm glad the players and the technical bench have mastered them.
"The most important thing was to get players to believe in me, I'm happy because philosophy has helped inspire confidence in players," he said.
After beating the AFC Leopards 1-0 to lift the revival of the KPL Super Cup in Nakuru, his new captain, Harun Shakava, came out with the winner on Jan. 18. Kerr's charges have not turned back. of epic proportions, he should extend his league record record at the end of the season.
Such has been their local dominance that some of their avid fans suggest that the club should focus on a continental title while others proclaim that Gor should be the national team.
Appeals to name Kerr as national team The Harambee Stars head coach, who follows in Williamson's footsteps, also gains ground, but Kerr distances himself and chooses instead to advise the current leader, Frenchman Sebastian Migne.
"My advice to him is that he should mark his authority in the team by choosing his best for the national side.
Special Interests
"He should not listen to other people with special interests In Gor Mahia, I choose my line-up without any outside influence so I advise Migne to do the same," he suggested .
With Gor and other local football fans who offer him a lot of love, the colorful Britan who especially sees the canoe in shorts and a t-shirt, no matter the weather, also took his home with delight.
"I like Kenyans, they are polite, friendly and the women are very beautiful.Other aspect that I love, is the dynamic lifestyle, especially in downtown Nairobi where I hang out enjoying bars, music and drinks, "Kerr noted.
The dark clouds of out-of-field issues that have upset the club have been a favorite subject for the Briton in most of his recent calls to the press, confessing frankly that they have weighed on his players .
"The team has good and bad times, but I continue to advise players that football is their job, so it's their duty to respect that.
"I constantly advise the club management to fix these obstacles so that players can have a little bit of mind," Kerr said.
He credits the enthusiasm of Green Army fans who have supported his team every time as the tonic that motivated his players to return positive results to the field.
"It's a virtue you can not beat.When I joined this team, I decided to come on the field with a smile and leave with a smile." J & # 39, inspires and motivates players.
"It's the secret that has me released with them, it's helped the players to believe in me." I've up to now cast a more confident side than the one I've been using. team that I found last year, "he added.
After taking every shot that his team received in his stride, Kerr points out what personally prevented him from dealing with it all.
"I am a very positive and enthusiastic person, my glass is always half full," he says impassively.
Since their debacle in Tanzania, K & Ogalo has returned home to beat Yanga 4-0 in the Confed Cup. He beat the old Leopard 2-1 in the Mashemeji Derby last Sunday against another player in the second division, Posta. Rangers 3-1 in the last 16 of the shield.
Another victory over the record of 27 Tanzanian league winners who are also involved in a dispute between the club and the players today will see KO Ogalo take an important step in sealing at least second place in group D to make the last. eight of the Confed Cup.
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