Gor Mahia’s top brass will convene a meeting today to address ongoing tensions within the technical bench. This follows a spate of ugly confrontations that have spilt into the public domain.
Recent events have thrust the technical bench into the spotlight, revealing a fissure that threatens the unity and performance of the club.
Head coach Sinisa Mihic and his assistants Zedekiah Otieno and Michael Nam are experiencing unresolved differences that have surfaced over the past month. The discord has escalated to a point where public confrontations are no longer an anomaly.
The root of this discontent can be traced back to unresolved differences that began surfacing earlier in the month, culminating in a series of altercations that have captivated the media and fans alike.
The gravity of the situation was laid bare during a recent Kenyan Premier League match against Sofapaka, where Mihic, already serving a touchline ban, found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with stewards and police officers following his dramatic exit from Dandora Stadium as the match continued.
To quell the unrest, Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier has taken it upon himself to reassure players and staff alike, emphasising the need for unity and discipline.
Addressing the media at the team’s training ground at Sportspesa Stadium in Thika, Rachier said they were burning the midnight oil in a frantic bid to ensure the three have buried the hatchet. “I’m here first of all to talk to the players and give them assurance that we are going to address all these issues that appear to he arising from the friction on the bench,” Rachier said.
“I’ve already addressed the bench and the players, calling for unity among them so that we can win trophies,” he added. Rachier said he also took an effort to address the players individually and separately, on the need for discipline and, particularly, respect for authority.
“Even if they think their superiors are wrong in any way, they should just concentrate on playing football. That was the gist of my message to them,” he said. “I have called for an executive committee meeting with the entire technical bench so that they may be able to find solutions and urge them to act in unison so that we achieve our goal. “We shall hold a meeting to decide on the technical bench on Wednesday,” he said.
On April 5, Mihic announced that he had resolved an internal dispute with his technical bench, leading to a united front ahead of a crucial match against KCB.
This followed an incident the previous day, where he clashed with key members of his support staff, including team manager Victor Nyaoro, first assistant coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno and second assistant coach Michael Nam.
Mihic’s management style is under scrutiny as he insists on adherence to his tactical vision, revealing tensions between individual ambitions and team goals. His insistence on discipline and adherence to his tactical vision is a clarion call for respect and professionalism, yet it also reveals the potential for discord when individual ambitions clash with collective objectives. “There is no way I’m going to work with them because I can’t be blackmailed,” Mihic said.
“Out of goodwill, I have made an effort to help these people, even lending them money and using my resources to organise club activities. Why are they fighting me?”
“I will not field players who fail to follow instructions,” the coach said, further denouncing the alleged outside influence on team selections. I am under pressure to play against foreign players, but some local players are outperforming them.”
