Bandari’s 1-0 win over defending champions Gor Mahia on Sunday dominated the headlines, yet a lot more has been going right for the Dockers under the tutelage of coach John Baraza.Called upon to stabilize Bandari’s sinking ship after just six games into the 2023–24 FKF Premier League season, Baraza stepped up, dragging them from position eleven to second.##NAJAVA_MECA_7950669##The youthful gaffer had succeeded veteran Twahir Muhiddin on an interim basis after deputizing for him over the challenging period.Yet, his exploits would earn him a permanent two-year deal in January this year alongside other members of the technical bench, including goalkeeper trainer Jerim “Jagoal” Onyango.Baraza, who has honed his coaching skills at clubs like Sofapaka FC, Equity FC, Mara FC, and Kakamega Homeboyz, has managed to maintain a good run, making Bandari one of the league’s best performers alongside Tusker FC.The Dockers have won four of their last five fixtures. They are placed third on the log with 43 points, the same as second-placed Tusker, seven points off leaders Gor Mahia with ten games to go.”The players are willing to play for me and the club,” Baraza revealed. He added, “The first thing I did was to create a good rapport with the players and establish a good training environment.””Once you achieve that, many other things fall into place. For example, respect for time, your tactics get implemented, discipline, and commitment,” the former Harambee Stars striker said.Kenya dealt blow as star midfielder opts to play for South SudanFacing Gor Mahia, he says, calls for extra effort. “You’re facing a motivated side with a winning mentality. Any player joining Gor Mahia automatically steps up, and so for you to match them, you must equally step up.””As much as Gor Mahia are our rivals, there are some things we’re learning from them and trying to implement. A winning mentality is one of them, and we’ve been trying to instill it in our players.”He hailed the competitiveness of the league, saying that victory is never a guarantee for any team, even against lowly ranked sides. “At all times, you must raise your game and give your best.”Baraza is not setting targets just yet, but in the long term, he wants to bag titles as a coach. “You will be asked one day what you achieved as a coach. I want to win titles. I won many of them as a player, and I want to replicate the same as a coach. That’s what sets you apart.”Shollei warns AK against appealing court case, backs Eldoret City Marathon
