Open Letter to Gor Mahia Coach Dylan Kerr

Coach Gor Mahia FC Dylan Kerr before kickoff of their KPL match against AFC Leopards at Nyayo National Stadium on Aug 27, 2017. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

I pray this finds you in your usual cheerful self.

Firstly, congratulations in advance for guiding Gor Mahia to the 2017 Kenyan Premier League glory.

Kerr, allow me to whisper something, inasmuch as millennial Gor fans are happy with the local dominance, deep down, a bit of frustration and delusion is creeping in.

I say this as someone who follows the club closely and interacts with the Green Army almost daily.

The club is being labeled a big fish in a small pond and it’s sinking in - they don’t like it.

It’s a fact no club in Kenyan Premier League can match Gor Mahia in terms of quality players, quality technical bench, larger fan base or even competition - they are currently 15 points clear at the summit with seven matches to go.

From where I sit, no local achievement will in the near future bring the joy and pride the 2013 and 2015 KPL titles brought to K’Ogalo community.

The former gong came after an 18-year drought, while the latter was a repeat of the 1976 invincible run.

The dwindling numbers in the stands partly attest to this lack of enthusiasm, of course without sweeping under other pertinent issues that have been raised time and again.

It is only ripe for Gor Mahia to regain their rightful place in Africa after terrible attempts in the recent past.

With the path to the African Champions League group stage relatively smoothened with expansion and a fall-back plan in the Confederations Cup, Gor Mahia have no excuse.

Lack of squad and technical bench continuity has been one major hindrance to this end, Kerr.

The management has often been boxed in situations whereby contracts of key players run out at the end of every season, exposing them to greedy agents, who never fail to grab the opportunity to make a killing.

In his book, Leading, Sir Alex Ferguson says one critical lesson he picked early in his formative years in the trade, was never to allow contracts of players he had in his future plans to run out.

If any player must leave, then a suitable replacement should be signed well in time.

It gives you peace of mind and ample time for proper pre-season.

Younger teams like Zesco United of Zambia have appreciated this and are now ashining in Africa.

Little-known CAPS United and Mbabane Swallows made good attempts this year at the expense of big names like TP Mazembe and AC Leopards.

It’s possible, Kerr.

Bonface Osano, a football writer.