Gor Mahia FC chairman Ambrose Rachier at a past press briefing /Photo courtesy/
Kenya Premier League side Gor Mahia FC is in no rush to appoint a new head coach, despite receiving 33 applications from foreign candidates.
The club’s chairman, Ambrose Rachier, confirmed that they had received 33 applications from international coaches seeking to replace Brazilian Leonardo Neiva. However, he emphasized that the club is not rushing to make a decision.
“We have so far received 33 applications from foreign coaches. We are yet to respond to them, as we will first meet to determine what kind of coach would best suit the interests of the club,” Rachier explained during an interview with Citizen Digital.
Gor Mahia parted ways with head coach Neiva after a poor start to the season, with the defending champions languishing in 12th place in the FKF Premier League after six matches. Assistant coaches Zedekiah Otieno and Michael Nam were tasked with overseeing the team on an interim basis.
Under the interim management of Otieno and Nam, K’Ogalo secured a 2-0 win against Kakamega Homeboyz on November 28, climbing to eighth place in the league despite having played three fewer matches.
The club invoked a clause in Neiva’s two-year contract to terminate his services. Neiva, 46, had been appointed on July 1 to replace Johnathan McKinstry, whose contract expired, and who then moved on to coach the Gambia national team.
During his brief tenure, Neiva oversaw 13 matches, winning only three, drawing three, and losing seven.
The club has stated it will take time to thoroughly analyze the applications before deciding on a new coach.
“We are yet to respond to them, as we will first sit down and determine what kind of coach would best suit the interests of the club,” Rachier reiterated in a press briefing.
Rachier also addressed rumors linking the club to former coaches Dylan Kerr and Hassan Oktay. He confirmed that while he had brief phone conversations with both coaches, no football-related discussions took place, and neither expressed an interest in returning to the club.
“Kerr called me and greeted me in Swahili and Luo, but did not mention any desire to take the vacant role. Hassan Oktay also called after Neiva’s departure, but again, he did not express any intention to return. While that could be a sign, we are still in the brainstorming phase,” Rachier added.
Oktay, who famously guided Gor Mahia to a historic 4-2 victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek in the 2018/2019 CAF Confederation Cup, contacted Rachier after Neiva’s exit. However, the nature of their conversation left some ambiguity.
Though Oktay’s call may not have been a formal application, his past success with the club—particularly the historic win over Zamalek in the 2018/2019 CAF Confederation Cup—has fueled fan speculation about his potential return.
Ultimately, the decision about who will take over as head coach is pivotal for Gor Mahia’s future. For now, the club remains focused on carefully weighing all available options to ensure they make the best choice for their long-term growth and success.
As Gor Mahia prepares for their upcoming away match against Mara Sugar in Awendo on Saturday, the priority remains on maintaining stability and setting the stage for future achievements.
