Steven Polack – All you need to know about the incoming K'Ogalo coach

Football
By Brian Murumba | Aug 08, 2019
Incoming Gor Mahia head coach Steven Polack [Courtesy]

Perennial Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia are set to appoint Steven George Polack as their new head coach.

The development comes after their immediate former coach Hassan Oktay, left due to personal reasons.

Oktay had requested for five days of compassionate leave last week, to attend to family matters at his native home in Turkey, leaving the team in the hands of the newly-hired assistant Patrick Odhiambo.

He was expected back on Monday, August 5 to start preparing the team for Sunday’s CAF Champions League first-round clash away to Aigle Noir, only for him to hand in a resignation letter the following day.

But with the CAF requirement of License B as the minimum qualification for coaches handling teams featuring in the Champions League and Confederation Cup, K’Ogalo had to act fast, hence contacted Polack.

Who is Steven Polack?

Polack has a lot of coaching experience [Courtesy]

The experienced tactician, 58, managed Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko and led them to the Confederation Cup Group stages last season.

He was born on the 10th day of January 1961 in Birmingham, England to an English mother and a father from the West Indies.

Football career

He had a good 13-season career with Finnish clubs RoPS Rovaniemi and FC Inter from 1984-1994 and 1996-1997 respectively.

He won the Finnish Cup with RoPS Rovaniemi in 1986.

His exploits in a RoPS Rovaniemi shirt earned him a legendary status there before he moved to Inter in 1996 and hung up his boots in 1998 to pursue a coaching career.

Since swapping the field of play for the touchline, he has managed several teams, which justifies why Gor Mahia was quick to contact him.

The clubs he has managed include Asante Kotoko, Bertekum Chelsea, King Feisal, Inter Turku, FC KooTeePee, FC Viikingit, AC Oulu, KPV, FC Raahe and PK Keski-Uusimaa.

He also has several honours under his belt including Ghalca Glo G8 Cup (2011) which he won with Bertekum Chelsea, Ghana FA CUP (2016/17), Ghana President Cup (2016/17).

If his decorated history is anything to go by, then K’Ogalo could be bringing in a manager with lots of experience to fine-tune their evergreen squad.?

Share this story
Junior Starlets gear up for World Cup qualifier encounter against Uganda
Junior Starlets have set their sights on a crucial away win over Uganda’s Teen Cranes as they aim to secure their return to the global stage.
Under-20 talents to face off in battle for tickets to world event in Eugene
The World Under-20 Championships is set for August 5-9 in Eugene.
Over 2,500 players to battle it out in Duracoat Golf Masters Series
The Duracoat Golf Masters series 2026 will be played at 12 venues before the grand finale that will be staged at Mount Kipipiri at the end of the year. 
Sh11 B more to beat AFCON 2027 deadline
Kenya requires an additional Sh11.02 billion from the Exchequer to  complete key stadiums earmarked for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON),
Universities raise the bar in KUSF games
The just concluded Kenya Universities Sports Federation (KUSF) Nairobi North Conference League has once again revealed the growing competitiveness of university sports in Kenya.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS