Former Gor Mahia winger reveals the real reasons giants have dominated Kenyan football in the last decade

Former Gor Mahia winger reveals the real reasons giants have dominated Kenyan football in the last decade

Mark Kinyanjui 19:20 - 20.05.2024

Mutiso was part of the Gor Mahia side that won the first league title in over 18 years in 2012, which created a pathway for the other nine league titles they have won since.

Former Gor Mahia winger Innocent Mutiso has shed light on the qualities that have made Gor Mahia a formidable force in Kenyan football since 2013. 

Mutiso, who dazzled fans with his wing play and precise crosses during Gor Mahia’s back-to-back title-winning seasons in 2013 and 2014, spoke candidly about the club's sustained success.

Mutiso's career was cut short by a knee injury at the end of the 2014 season, but he is proud to have been part of a team that laid the foundations for Gor Mahia's decade-long dominance. 

Since then, only Tusker FC has managed to dethrone Gor Mahia twice, in 2016 and 2021, while the 2022 season was nullified by the Football Kenya Federation after their reinstatement following a ban.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Monday Football show, Mutiso shared insights on what has propelled Gor Mahia to their record 21st league title, confirmed after a resounding victory over Muhoroni Youth.

“It all started with our team when Gor had gone 18 years without winning the league, and we broke that duck in 2013 and retained it in 2014,” Mutiso said.

“Gor Mahia has always attracted the best footballers in the country. Everyone dreams of playing for them.

“ When I was at Mathare United, the season we won the league in 2008, I was brought in as a substitute in the 85th minute when the game was 1-1, and I scored the winner. They started looking for my signature after that.”

Mutiso highlighted the club’s financial muscle, which has been crucial to their success, despite occasional challenges such as player strikes and training disruptions. “

This comes from their sponsors. Every year they have a reliable sponsor. Right now, SportPesa has been giving them all the financial support they need to get a good technical bench.”

Despite their domestic success, Gor Mahia has not participated in continental football since 2021, when they failed to progress past the preliminary stages of the CAF Confederation Cup. Their last significant continental achievement was reaching the quarter-finals of the same competition in 2019.

Mutiso outlined what the club needs to do in the off-season to build a squad capable of competing in the CAF Champions League next season.

 “In the past five years, there has been a shift in power between Kenyan and Tanzanian teams,” he noted.

He emphasized the importance of retaining key players like Benson Omalla and Austin Odhiambo and suggested strengthening the squad with talent from Central and West Africa.

 “Benson Omalla, a product of Chapa Dimba, is there. They need to retain Austin Odhiambo and then sign some players from Central and West Africa to help them become competitive.”

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