On Monday evening, Gor Mahia officially announced the departure of head coach Sinisa Mihic, just three months into his tenure. The Croatian tactician leaves under circumstances he is unlikely to forget, though not for the most favorable reasons, as his time at the club was marred by internal turmoil and underwhelming results.The announcement, which came as a surprise to many, followed Gor Mahia’s goalless draw away to Murang’a Seal, a result that effectively ended their hopes of retaining the league title. The stalemate allowed Kenya Police FC to extend their lead at the top to seven points, putting them one win away from clinching their maiden league title.If Gor Mahia falter in the upcoming Mashemeji Derby, the Law Enforcers will be crowned champions.##NAJAVA_MECA_8931709##Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsAlthough the club stated that Mihic’s exit was a mutual decision, sources close to the situation suggest the coach chose to walk away.The team remains in contention for the Mozzart Bet Cup, but the internal challenges appear to have taken a toll.“We have parted ways with head coach Sinisa Mihic by mutual agreement. The two assistant coaches will take over on an interim basis. We wish Mihic all the best in his future endeavors,” read part of the club’s official statement.As he bows out, Mozzart Sport takes a closer look at the various factors—both internal and external—that meant Mihic was unlikely to succeed at Gor Mahia this season.’Golden Boot’ hopeful Emmanuel Osoro reveals secret behind goal-scoring formTechnical bench falloutOne of the most destabilizing issues during Mihic’s tenure was the constant infighting within the technical bench. His relationship with assistants Zedekiah Otieno and Michael Nam, as well as team manager Victor Nyaoro, reportedly deteriorated quickly.Disagreements on tactics and player management were frequent, and a video from a training session at Stima Club even captured players urging the coaches to resolve their differences. “There is no way I’m going to work with them because I can’t be blackmailed. These are people I have supported, even lent money to. I have used my own resources to facilitate team activities out of goodwill. Why are they sabotaging and fighting me?” Mihic told Daily Nation after one of the fallouts.Two Kenyan referees appointed to officiate in CAF Champions League finalDuring a match against Sofapaka at Dandora Stadium, while serving a touchline ban, Mihic stormed out after his assistants delayed a substitution he had instructed. The match ended in a draw, a result that hurt Gor’s title ambitions.Fielding disputesMihic also clashed with his bench over player selection. He claimed that pressure was mounting on him to field players he deemed unfit, with some reports suggesting the contention revolved around foreign players at the club.“I won’t bow to influence and play individuals who aren’t following instructions. Kenyan players are actually better than some of the foreigners they’re pushing me to use. I’ve been an assistant coach before, but I’ve never seen such behavior. It’s unacceptable,” he stated in an interview.BREAKING: Gor Mahia send Sinisa Mihic packing after string of poor resultsInconsistent performances from key playersAny coach’s success is heavily dependent on the form of key players. Unfortunately for Mihic, some of Gor Mahia’s top talents underperformed or were frequently unavailable due to injury.Reigning MVP Austin Odhiambo battled injuries and inconsistency. Long-serving left-back Geoffrey Ochieng’s form dipped, while right-back Ronney Onyango was sidelined before departing for Norway. Up front, forwards Shariff Musa, Samuel Kapen, and Samuel Onyango struggled to string together impactful performances, costing the team crucial points and adding pressure on the coach.Gor Mahia respond to viral video of supporters attacking Murang’a Seal fan [VIDEO]Lack of reliable goal scorersHistorically, Gor Mahia’s success has hinged on having dependable goal scorers. Under Mihic, however, goals were hard to come by. Midfielder Austin Odhiambo leads the scoring chart with just nine goals, highlighting the team’s struggles in attack.The return of Benson Omala was supposed to ease the burden, but the former ‘Golden Boot’ winner has found the net only once in the league this season. The lack of a clinical striker was a glaring weakness during Mihic’s reign.Mashemeji Derby date confirmedTeam inconsistencyWhile Mihic lost only two matches during his time—against FC Talanta and Nairobi City Stars—his team failed to convert draws into wins in matches which ought to have been straight victories for the record champions. Draws against Murang’a Seal, Sofapaka, and Bidco United derailed the club’s title push.Notably, Mihic was suspended during the loss to Talanta, further underlining the disjointed nature of his time in charge.AFC Leopards head coach defends Brian Wanyama after penalty miss
