Gor Boss Kerr Unrattled Despite Bandari Defeat

NAIROBI, Kenya- Gor Mahia FC coach Dylan Kerr remains positive despite his side suffering their first league defeat of the season away to 10-man Bandari FC on Tuesday afternoon.

The 2-1 win saw Bandari move up to second in the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) standings with 45 points from 26 matches, 11 points adrift of leaders Gor.

Speaking to SportPesa News on Wednesday, the British boss told how the stunning loss shook his system in a match where his leading scorer, Jacques Tuyisenge popped up with a 78th minute consolation.

"Last night I couldn’t sleep because I was really thinking about the negatives and positives of the loss to Bandari.

“There were a lot of factors that contributed to yesterday’s defeat and the most important one is the quality of the pitch,” Kerr said after the teams’ training session at Camp Toyoyo Grounds.

Dan Guya and Yema Mwana saw the dockers race to a 2-0 half time lead before Fred Nkata was sent off two minutes after Tuyisenge struck to set a nervous finish at Mbaraki Stadium.

The K'Ogalo boss further lamented the poor playing surface at Mbaraki, Mombasa's eminent football stadium as well as gamesmanship from their opponents as they sought to protect their lead.

"The pitch shouldn’t be allowed by the Kenya Premier League (KPL) because it’s very poor quality. Bandari are clearly very used to it and we aren’t.

"So are the time wasting tactics that the opposition deployed and ended up costing us the game.

That isn’t an excuse for the loss and we will come back stronger in our upcoming matches," Kerr who lost his only second SPL game since taking charge at the club charged.

Gor have had an impressive season so far besides the most hectic fixture schedule out of the 18 SPL teams, with the relentless run seeing them play five games in a span of nine days.

Huge sacrifice

Kerr, who recently led Gor to their second successive SportPesa Super Cup title with a 2-0 win over Tanzanian giants Simba SC, urged his players to maintain the level of dedication and maturity in their pursuit of a record-extending 17th domestic crown.

“Despite the loss, we were the better team. They had three chances on goal and scored two from set-pieces.

“It was just not our day yesterday (Tuesday) and we eventually paid the price. Credit to the coach who is the only one that has managed a win against us so far this season,” Kerr stated in paying respect to his opposite number, Bernard Mwalala.

“I have told my players they have to make a huge sacrifice this month from the way they eat to the way they carry themselves off the pitch. 

"We are playing so many games in a short span of time which is obviously not good for the players but they have to soldier on and I'm proud of the attitude they continue to show,” he stressed.

There is no time for K'Ogalo to agonise over the defeat with 10th-placed Posta Rangers FC up next for the champions on Friday at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

Afterwards they have a two-day rest period over the weekend before another tough test against Kakamega Homeboyz FC on Monday.