Gor Mahia face FC Talanta amid technical bench wars

Croatian head coach Sinisa Mihic has clashed with his assistants Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, Michael Nam, and Team Manager Victor Nyaoro over the exclusive management of the playing unit.

Mihic, currently serving a two-match ban, will once again watch from the stands as Gor Mahia battle to collect maximum points and move to second on the log, just one point behind leaders Tusker.

Third-placed K’Ogalo have 47 points from 26 matches, while 13-time champions Tusker lead with 51 points from 27 games.

Mihic was already sidelined during last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Sofapaka and stormed out of the match, alleging that his instructions were being ignored by the technical staff.

It remains unclear whether Otieno will be on the technical bench for the FC Talanta fixture, or whether Michael Nam will lead the side.

Otieno was notably absent from training sessions on Monday at Mpesa Academy in Thika and on Tuesday at Dandora, while players rested yesterday as they awaited the outcome of the club top brass.

“We just want to fight for the league title and not engage in these wars, but the truth is that the divisions in the technical bench are affecting our performance. That is why there is some indiscipline in the team as players have started forming camps,” said a senior player who sought anonymity for fear of reprisal.

“The chairman talked very well to us and I hope we shall focus on giving our all to defend the league title. Let our fans attend our matches in their numbers to help us achieve our target,” he added.

Midfielder Austin Odhiambo, who had previously fallen out with Mihic, struck a conciliatory tone yesterday, telling reporters: “I now respect the coach, and my focus is on aiding the team to win its matches.”

Gor Mahia will be favourites against FC Talanta, having never lost to them since the Jackline Juma-coached side earned promotion to the FKF-PL in 2022.

Talanta, currently 16th with 26 points from 27 matches, are battling to avoid relegation and will be desperate for points.

Missed opportunities

Meanwhile, AFC Leopards' dwindling fortunes continued on Wednesday as they were held to a barren draw by Ulinzi Stars in a rescheduled match at Dandora Stadium, Nairobi.

Ingwe have now gone six matches without a win, with their last victory coming on February 15 when they edged out Mara Sugar 1-0 at Awendo Green Stadium in Migori County.

The result leaves Leopards with only a faint hope of contesting for the FKF-PL title. They remain seventh on the table with 38 points from 27 matches, seven games away from the end of the season.

Leopards' coach Fred Ambani lamented his side's missed opportunities, particularly singling out Victor "Aguero" Otieno’s missed chance early in the match.

“We have wasted a lot of chances and this affects us since we don’t win. It was a bad game because we got chances and didn’t win. Koloti tried his best and destabilized Ulinzi’s defence but we failed to score,” said Ambani, who now finds himself under increasing pressure.

On his part, Ulinzi Stars coach Danstan Nyaudo admitted his side were lucky to escape with a point.

“Leopards missed chances and we were lucky to have had a draw,” said Nyaudo. “Our midfield was dead in the first half, but we improved in the second half, and the substitutions I made changed the game.”