The Splash Of Victory: SPL Title-Winning Coach Oktay Bags April's Finest Gong

NAIROBI, Kenya- Fresh from leading his side to the 2018/19 SportPesa Premier League title, Gor Mahia FC coach Hassan Oktay had a Thursday morning to relish after he was named the Fidelity Insurance Coach of the Month Award winner for April.

The Turkish Cypriot-born boss accepted his second monthly award in three months after coming tops in February as reward to his side's storming finish to the season that saw them clinch a third successive and record-extending 18th domestic league crown.

In April, Gor tightened their grip on the SPL trophy and effectively ended the hopes of closest challengers, Bandari FC and 2009 champions Sofapaka FC by stringing together five wins, two draws and the walkover they were awarded by relegated Mt. Kenya FC who failed to travel to their encounter in Machakos.

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It was a roaring performance from the biggest football club in the country bearing in mind the congested fixture schedule as the SPL struggled to close the campaign before the end of May to align itself with the international FIFA calender from the start of next season.

“We have dropped points against teams sitting lower in the table but for the big games there was no competition. We prepared for the big games then they turn out to be walks in the park,” the beaming Oktay who was splashed with water as he received his prize by his jubilant players at Nairobi's Camp Toyoyo grounds said.

Gor juggernaut

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Before clicking to gear, April started with successive 1-1 draws against Kakamega Homeboyz FC and Ulinzi Stars FC in that order, leading some to suggest the wheels were coming off the Gor juggernaut following their heartbreaking quarterfinal exit from the CAF Confederations Cup at the hands of RS Berkane of Morocco late March.

However, Oktay galvanised his side and soon, the steamroller was back, with a 1-0 victory over Bandari going a long way to deflating their hopes of overhauling them as champions having finished second last season.

Tusker FC, the 11-time league winners and the last team besides Gor to lift the crown in the last seven seasons were next, surrendering 0-2. Gor closed the month with a 2-1 win over Ulinzi having also been awarded a 2-0 success over Mt. Kenya for their clash that was abandoned on April 25.

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Oktay (12 points) edged Homeboyz head coach Nicholas Muyoti and Leopards rival Andre Cassa Mbungo in the vote for the April Coach of the Month.

Muyoti guided the Homeboyz to four wins and three draws in seven while Cassa Mbungo led Ingwe to four wins and two draws from six in the period under review.

Oktay becomes the fourth recipient of the award in the 2018/19 season after Western Stima FC's Paul Ogai, Mathare United's Francis Kimanzi and John Baraza of Sofapaka.

Oktay and Gor will be presented with the SPL trophy on Saturday at Kenyatta Stadium after their match against Posta Rangers FC, another team in much need of points to avoid being sucked into the relegation mire.

For the record champions, it will be another coronation ceremony that is becoming an all too familiar fixture in their set up.