Gor Mahia Coach Explains Why Ghanaian Forward Struggles to Play 90 Minutes

Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor has highlighted some of the key strengths and weaknesses of his players as they fight to reclaim the FKF Premier League title.

K’Ogalo gave themselves a massive boost when they downed bitter rivals AFC Leopards 1-0 on Sunday with Alpha Onyango’s late striker settling the 99th Mashemeji Derby, a victory that saw them open up a six-point lead at the summit of the log.

Akonnor, who has paid glowing tribute to his players for the gallant performance, explained the decision to go with Cameroonian Patrick Essombe in attack and not Ghanaian Ebenezer Assifuah who has had to contend with spells on the bench.

The Ghanaian coach says his compatriot, who was signed in January, can hardly complete a whole game and that is why he has to manage his minutes in a bid to get the maximum out of him.

“We have to manage Assifuah very well, 90 minutes is always a problem for him,” Akonnor told Azam TV. “He is not fresh to come and so we thought Patrick, who is so energetic, started the game and did very well.”

“Unfortunately, he [Essombe] got injured but everything we planned for and wanted to do on the field of play [went well]. The boys were able to implement exactly what we wanted to do,” Akonnor added.

Assifuah was introduced in the 70th minute for countryman Ebenezer Adu-Kwaw and immediately tested the Leopards goalkeeper with a long-range effort as Gor laid siege at their opponents’ goal.

Despite his bench role, Assifuah is Gor Mahia’s second leading scorer in the league with six goals, second to Felix Oluoch, who has managed seven, and will be key to their title push in the final five games of the season.