How Gor Mahia won KPL title: Arrival of Kerr at K’Ogalo was the signal of good things to come

GOR MAHIA VS MATHARE UN Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr against Thika United during their KPL match at Thika Municipal stadium on Saturday 14/10/17[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

New champions set record as they win 16th title after victory over Ulinzi in Kericho.

Gor Mahia have officially gone into Kenya’s football history books after beating Ulinzi Stars 1-0 to win a record 16th Kenyan Premier League title in Kericho yesterday.

Rwandese import Meddie Kagere’s first half goal is all that K’Ogalo needed to reclaim the title they lost to Tusker last year.

We look at how Gor Mahia won the 2017 KPL title with four matches to go.

Arrival of Dylan Kerr

The constant desire for knowledge and adaptability is what has helped Dylan Kerr’s transformative team since succeeding Jose Marcelo in July. He arrived at K’Ogalo when team was struggling and lacked  confidence. But the Briton appears to have instilled confidence in the playing unit, built a healthy relationship with players and revived careers of the likes of George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo and goalkeeper Peter Odhiambo.

Without a doubt, Blackberry is one of the players who has made a difference at Gor. Nobody could have foreseen him producing the type of campaign he produced. Five goals and six assists from a player whose had dipped in form is laudable.

Kerr has showed faith in Peter Odhiambo, fielding him ahead of Kenya international Boniface Oluoch in most  matches. This gamble paid off as the Briton has been able to secure 12 wins from 15 matches.

Lack of worthy competitor

Gor Mahia had no worthy competitors in the KPL this season. Sofapaka were close at some point but inconsistency affected them, while deposed champions Tusker, Ulinzi Stars and AFC Leopards’ performance were below par.

Sofapaka were tightly in the contention but it is the month of September that dented their title hopes after registering three losses in four matches. First it was a 2-1 defeat to Ulinzi Stars, followed by a barren draw against Kariobangi Sharks before an identical 2-1 loss to Kakamega Homeboyz and Gor Mahia respectively.

Tusker were the first causality as they couldn’t win when it mattered most after a stuttering start to the season.

The brewers went on to blow hot and cold throughout the season failing to keep pace with Kerr’s squad and bottled-in early in the second leg before suspending head coach George Nsimbe this week.

Title pretenders AFC Leopards had a bright  start to the season, setting pace with a six-game unbeaten run but faded away as the league progressed.

 

Tuyisenge-Kagere-Berry combination

Just like the deadly Ali Abondo-Meddie Kagere-Michael Olunga’s combination that starred in Gor Mahia’s 2015 invincible season scoring a combined 37 goals in 26 matches, this season seems to have been the turn of Kagere, Jacques Tuyisenge and   ‘Blackberry’.

The two imports, who are golden boot favourites, have so far scored a combined 23 league goals this year with a rejuvenated Odhiambo scoring five goals. 

Their partnership upfront has made K’Ogalo an attacking lot with an attitude, delivering fantastic attacking performances, terrorising rivals’ defences at will and leaving their markers for dead.

Balanced/Fit squad

Kerr has had a balanced and very fit squad. Save for Tuyisenge, Godfrey Walusimbi and Ernest Wendo’s minor injuries, the Briton has benefitted a great deal from his ever fit squad.  It seems like Gor have developed an immunity to injuries.

This has helped him to quickly identify his starting line-up, something that his Brazilian predecessor failed to do during his one and half season stay at Gor. The availability and impressive form of quality foreign players made the work easier for the technical bench.

Unlike their rivals who either defended well or attacked well, Gor did both.  They are the most lethal side with 47 goals out of 30 matches and have a mean backline that has so far conceded 18 times alongside Kakamega Homeboyz.

Formation and right combination

Kerr got it right on formation and tactics since his arrival at Gor Mahia. He changed from the ineffective 3-5-2 system previously used by Jose Marcelo to the traditional 4-4-2 system.

By Ben Ahenda 21 mins ago
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