IT’S TIME OUT, FOLKS: Gor Mahia to let Williamson go after Sunday KPL match

Gor Mahia coach Bobby Williamson against Tusker during their KPL match at Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday 26/03/14. They draw 1-1.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

The much-anticipated departure of Gor Mahia head coach Bobby Willimson is finally here.

The Scott prepares to hit the road to Harambee Stars after Sunday’s Kenyan Premier League (KPL) game against Sony Sugar at Nairobi City Stadium.

Confirming the reports, Gor Mahia Secretary General, Chris Omondi, said the coach will only be in charge of Sunday’s match then leave to Harambee Stars where he will head the technical department.

“Bobby is with us until the Sunday’s match against Sony Sugar after which he will be taking up his new role as the head coach of Harambee Stars,” Omondi told FeverPitch.

Confirming plans to replace the departing coach, Omondi said they have received a number of interests which they will consider.

“We have quite a number of applications and we will consider all of them before settling on one coach to lead the team. We are weighing out options whether to have an interim coach to take care of the team for the next remaining league matches or to hire a coach who will fully take us through to next season,” he added.

The Secretary General appreciated Williamson’s work and wished him well in his new job. He clearly indicated that the coach’s departure doesn’t mean he will not be available for advice if needed.

“We as a club truly appreciate Williamson’s work since he arrived in Gor. He is a professional coach who saw us through tough times and through his guidance, we won the title and we are in good stead to clinch the title again this season.

“We wish him well and we will seek for his advice if necessary because he said he would be available for advice,” concluded Omondi.

It’s been a rough season for the reigning Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia who, without a sponsor, have gone through tumultuous times in the league campaign.

Some of the key players departed, then the club had a serious case with Kenya Revenue Authority on taxes and a letter from Fifa was sent to Football Kenya Federation inquiring how one player was signed.

Despite all the tides around the club, performance on the pitch has been positive and just when things were looking up, Harambee stars came knocking at their door for their head coach’s signature after disbanding the technical bench hitherto headed by Algerian-born Belgian, Adel Amrouche.

Williamson joined Gor midway last season after coach Zdravko Logarusic left and he helped the club clinch the 13th KPL title.

In the meantime, the out-going Gor Mahia coach has expressed confidence that the team’s poor show in Rwanda during the on-going club champions will not affect their title chase this season, adds Gilbert Wandera.

“It was a disappointing performance, but I hope it will not affect their performance on the league front. Having said that, however, I want to point out that the officiating in Rwanda was terrible and denied us at least two victories.

“We were the best team in our group, but were let down by poor officiating,” he claimed.

Elsewhere, Sony Sugar coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno is confident his side can get all three points against Gor Mahia on Sunday.

He told the KPL website: All we want are points, and we don’t as much care who we get them from. We have beaten Gor many times before so I don’t see why we should fear them this time round. We have put in the necessary preparations and I believe my boys will rise to the occasion and pick the necessary three points.”