Gor Coach Kerr Lays It All Out On 'Worst Month' In Charge

NAIROBI, Kenya- Gor Mahia FC head coach, Dylan Kerr, has lifted the lid on the challenges he has faced at the glamour club following a poor run of form that has seen the record domestic league winners’ slump to five defeats in a row.

The SportPesa Premier League (SPL) and SportPesa Cup champions lost 0-2 to Vihiga United FC on Wednesday to compound a miserable sequence of results that started on August 29 when they went down 1-2 to USMA Alger in the CAF Confederations Cup.

On their return home, K’Ogalo immediately crashed out of the SportPesa Shield Cup on September 2 when they lost 2-4 on penalties to Kariobangi Sharks FC to end their dream of clinching the domestic double having secured the SPL crown with six games to spare on August 25.

Further defeats in the league to relegation-threatened Thika United FC (1-0) and Ulinzi Stars FC (2-0) on September 16 and 19 prefaced their surrender in Vihiga.

In a statement published on the club’s website, www.gormahiafc.co.ke on Thursday morning, the Briton who has been in charge at K’Ogalo since July last year lamented what he termed as ‘my toughest month' at Gor Mahia’.

He blamed the woes afflicting the club on the downing of tools by his players protesting delayed August salaries and match bonuses.

Training session

“My job as head coach is to work, coach, prepare and do my very best and I’m very proud of that because of what we have achieved.

“Unfortunately, recent results have gone against us and especially me as a coach and I need to put things into perspective. In the past 25 days, my players boycotted training sessions. In fact in the entire month, we only had a training session together on Tuesday 25th September the day before Vihiga game,” Kerr’s declaration started.

The gregarious coach who has led the team to two SPL crowns and a successful defence of the SportPesa Cup detailed the adverse effect the player’s strike has had on preparations for recent matches.

“On many occasions, my technical staff and l reported to training. For players, maybe one or two showed up but everyone else did not attend due to delayed August salary so we haven’t held a proper training session for awhile now.

“Against Thika and Ulinzi, we selected players who reported for the game. The players looked disinterested, no match fitness and again, they were more focused on off the pitch happenings,” he slammed.

With the club’s management moving on Monday to announce the pay dispute had been resolved, Kerr complained the squad had not reached the required levels to be competitive when they faced Vihiga who improved to 37 points following the victory to inch closer to SPL survival.

“In yesterday’s (Wednesday) game – before the horrendous downpour, we actually played some good football but lack of training and match fitness, worked against us – two counter attacks cost us another three points and gave us our fifth defeat in all competitions.

“The head coach is responsible for team selection, tactics, welfare of his players and technical bench, the supporters’ trust and more importantly the results,” the Gor boss mourned.

Internal issues

Despite the recent setbacks, Kerr is optimistic the club will resolve their internal issues before he leads the team to England to face Everton FC at Goodison Park on November 6 as he deflected responsibility for recent poor results from his doorstep.

“I have not been able to do my job as a head coach and if we look back, when I have been able to work with my players, prepare my players and select the best players for all games, the results have been fantastic.

“In the world of football, a club is judged on results and performance and the same applies to the head coach. My football ethics, philosophy and beliefs are being questioned because of our recent results without anyone bothering to look at the circumstances and facts around the team,” the Briton charged.

“I still have faith and trust in my Chairman Ambrose Rachier, players and staff and I apologise to the K’Ogalo faithful for our recent results,” he added.

Kerr leads the wounded champions to Kisumu on Sunday when they face 2008 league winners, Mathare United FC where they will be presented with the SPL trophy after the game.

Prior to the slump, Kerr masterminded an emphatic defence of their crown for a record-extending 17th title in their history, losing only once to Bandari FC (1-2) before wrapping up the league with six games to spare by beating archrivals AFC Leopards SC 2-0 on August 25.

Kerr’s side also made history by winning back-to-back SportPesa Cup trophies when they outclassed Tanzania giants, Simba SC 2-0 in the final played on July 10 at the Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.

The victory earned them a chance to avenge their 1-2 defeat to Everton in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania last year.

Gor also entered record books when they became the first Kenyan outfit to play in the group stages of the second tier Confed Cup, with the defeat in Algiers to USMA denying them a slot in the quarters when they finished third in their pool.