Gor Mahia Coach Highlights Tactical Mistakes K’Ogalo Must Avoid to Sustain Title Challenge

Gor Mahia assistant coach Bismark Kobi-Mensah has called on his team to improve in their decision-making if they want to remain consistent and ultimately win the FKF Premier League title.

Kobi-Mensah expressed his relief at seeing the 21-time Kenyan champions end their three-match winless run to claim a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz thanks to Alpha Onyango’s strike at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday.

K’Ogalo had other opportunities to win the game but wasted them and also allowed Homeboyz to grow into the game, especially in the second half, with Felix Oluoch and Shariff Musa among the guilty parties.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Kobi-Mensah feels that it was down to the players not applying the tactical instructions issued in training and feels they could be punished in subsequent games if the players do not do the right things at key moments of the match.

“Tactically in the second half we dropped small, we allowed them to play in their half just to make sure that at the end of the day, we keep more numbers behind the ball and make sure we end the game with 1-0,” Kobi-Mensah told the club’s media.

“What came back to haunt us in the second half is that we advanced and our players were in advanced positions on so many occasions but players were always making the wrong decisions.

“When they have to pass, they are shooting, when they have to shoot, they are passing. I think the players have the responsibility on the field to make the right decisions. That is their job.

“We have seen it; we are not happy because pressure was on us late on in the game because we couldn’t score two or three. 1-0 is anybody’s game, anything can happen so we did not like the way we ended the game but at the end of the day, we are happy.”

The Ghanaian coach admits it was due to the pressure from Homeboyz that they sought to steady the ship by bringing in Mark Shaban who is good at keeping possession.

“We brought him in because we know he has that quality to hold the ball. We needed players to hold the ball,” added Kobi-Mensah.

Gor Mahia’s win saw them reclaim top spot on the standings with 23 points from 12 matches and they now enjoy a two-point cushion over champions Kenya Police, who suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Murang’a Seal on Thursday. K’Ogalo will play their final game of the year on Sunday when they visit Nairobi United.