Gor Mahia assistant coach Kobi Bismarck has praised Ben Stanley Omondi’s technical ability and tactical intelligence backing the attacking midfielder to improve further as he settles into the team’s starting lineup after getting his first start of the season against Bandari FC.
Omondi has featured in different attacking positions for the defending Sportpesa League champions this season operating as a number 10 and on the left wing.
His versatility has provided Gor Mahia with more options in the final third as the club seeks to maintain its strong start to the 2026/27 SportPesa League campaign.
The attacker came off the bench in Gor Mahia’s opening matches partly because he returned from international duty with an injury that required careful management from the technical bench.
Despite his limited minutes in the opening fixtures, Omondi made his contribution count against APS Bomet providing the assist for captain Alpha Onyango’s winning goal in a 1-0 victory.
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He was subsequently handed his first start of the season against Bandari FC over the weekend, featuring on the left wing as Gor Mahia secured another 1-0 win.
Speaking after the victory, Bismarck explained why the technical bench had initially opted to introduce Omondi from the bench before giving him a starting opportunity.
“He came with an injury from the international break with the national team, so we are also managing him. That is why, in our first two games, he came from the bench,” Bismarck said.
The Gor Mahia assistant coach believes Omondi possesses the technical qualities needed to influence matches, particularly through his ability to take on defenders, control possession and break opposition lines.
“We decided to bring him because technically he is very good and one of the good talents we have in the team. We believe in him, so today we started him for a certain reason,” he explained.
“Tactically or technically, he is so good. We believe that he can break the lines, he can also control the game, can take on players and all that. Today, he was not too good, but we still believe that with time he will get better.”
Bismarck’s comments reflect the club’s confidence in Omondi despite his relatively slow start to the campaign. Having recovered sufficiently to earn a starting role, the former Migori Youth midfielder will be looking to build on his performance and establish himself as a regular option in Gor Mahia’s attacking setup.
The assistant coach also shed light on the tactical adjustments that have helped Gor Mahia collect victories against Murang’a SEAL, APS Bomet and Bandari.
According to Bismarck, the technical bench has focused on studying opponents and adapting the team’s approach to exploit their weaknesses rather than relying on a single style of play.
“Tactically, we have been very strong. In our first game against Murang’a SEAL, we had read their style of play and were able to execute our plan, and we won,” he said in an interview with sports radar.
“Against APS Bomet, we knew they go for long balls and all that. We changed our style of play and we won. Tactically, we knew what the opponents were coming to do, and we were able to fish out the important things. The important thing is to win three points.”
Gor Mahia’s ability to adjust their approach from one match to another has been an important feature of their opening fixtures, with the coaching staff keen to ensure the team remains effective against different opposition styles.
However, Bismarck believes the reigning champions could have won by a bigger margin against Bandari, pointing to missed opportunities that prevented them from putting the game beyond their opponents.
“Machaka should have added one, Assifuah should have added one, but at the end, I think that we have quality. We only have to direct them at the right time, and every player has to make sure that he is doing well,” he stated.
The coach further challenged his players to give their best whenever called upon, regardless of the amount of playing time they receive.
“Every player should have that responsibility, whether it is five minutes, ten minutes or ninety minutes. You have to kill yourself for the badge,” Bismarck added.
With Gor Mahia continuing to collect maximum points, Bismarck will be hoping Omondi can regain full sharpness and translate his technical quality into consistent performances as the champions look to maintain their momentum in the league.