Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has attributed his side’s 3-1 defeat to Tusker FC in the FKF Super Cup to individual errors insisting the mistakes that cost them the trophy are issues his technical bench can address ahead of their CAF Champions League campaign.
K’Ogalo went into Sunday’s clash at Nyayo National Stadium with confidence after an impressive run in the CECAFA Kagame Cup, where they reached the final before losing 2-1 to Rwanda’s Rayon Sports after extra time.
However, their hopes of beginning the new domestic season with silverware were dashed by a ruthless Tusker side that capitalised on defensive lapses to claim a 3-1 victory and lift the FKF Super Cup.
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Akonnor admitted that while his team showed promising moments during the game, their individual mistakes proved costly.
“Conceding similar goals, individual mistakes, this is not a team collective mistake from a team organization it’s an individual mistake and it has been happening.”
The Ghanaian tactician revealed that the technical bench had already identified the problem and would work with the players to eliminate the recurring mistakes.
“We need to be calm about it, we don’t need to panic as coaches there’s mistakes which we have observed, we’ve seen it and we will work it out and I believe that by the time we play Pyramids FC there will be a lot of improvements.”
Tusker took control of the contest after Francis Oduor opened the scoring following a poorly cleared free-kick. Eugene Ikutwa then doubled the Brewers’ advantage just two minutes later with a powerful strike that gave Gor Mahia goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi little chance.
K’Ogalo managed to pull one goal back before the break when Ikutwa inadvertently turned Daniel Sakari’s long throw into his own net giving Gor hope of a second-half comeback.
Akonnor made two changes at the interval, bringing on Shariff Musa and Ebenezer Assifuah as Gor searched for an equaliser. The league champions started the second half with greater attacking intent, with Bryton Onyona and Ebenezer Adukwaw forcing saves from Tusker goalkeeper Perrauld Ndinga.
But just as Gor Mahia appeared to be building momentum, Tusker struck again. Ian Simiyu rose highest inside the box to head home and restore the Brewers’ two-goal advantage.
For Akonnor, the third goal was particularly damaging because of its impact on his players’ confidence.
“Well it depends on how you see it I think today we didn’t do well at a point in time we were okay until the mistakes and of course the third goal really brought our spirit down and it wasn’t good.”
Despite the disappointing result, Akonnor does not believe the defeat represents a decline from Gor Mahia’s encouraging CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign.
The record Kenyan champions had opened their continental tournament with a statement 5-0 victory over APR FC before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Vipers SC. They bounced back with a 1-0 win over Garde Republicaine before edging Sudan giants Al Hilal 8-7 on penalties in the semi-final. Rayon Sports eventually denied them the trophy with a 2-1 extra-time victory in the final.
Akonnor believes the experience gained from that campaign will help the team as they prepare for their next major assignment.
“You know when you get into situations like that you need to be calm and work on the boys, the mental awareness of what they have to do at the right time and in this we will do our job in the coming weeks.”
The coach’s immediate focus is now on the CAF Champions League, with Gor Mahia set to face Egyptian giants Pyramids FC in the first preliminary round.
Gor Mahia will host Pyramids FC at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, September 6, with the match scheduled to kick off at 3:00pm EAT.
With the Super Cup defeat serving as an early warning, Akonnor will be hoping his players respond on the continental stage. The technical bench now has a short window to work on the defensive lapses, improve the team’s concentration and ensure individual errors do not once again undermine Gor Mahia’s ambitions.
The defeat may have denied K’Ogalo an early piece of silverware, but Akonnor remains convinced that his side can quickly turn the page and produce a much-improved performance when Pyramids FC arrive in Nairobi.