The 2024/25 season was a campaign that Gor Mahia fans would hastily want to erase from their storied history after finishing runners-up in both the FKF Premier League and the Mozzart Bet Cup, to go trophyless for the first time in nine years.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe season also marked another rarity as the record Kenyan champions dismissed their head coaches, Leonardo Martins Neiva and Sinisa Mihic, in the same campaign.K’Ogalo capped off the season’s despondency with a 2-1 loss to Nairobi United in the Mozzart Bet Cup finals.Government reveals why Nyayo Stadium is not fully ready to host CHAN yetGoals by Frank Ouya in the ninth minute and an Enock Machaka strike in the 73rd minute were enough to give Naibois the Cup title, as Ben Stanley’s 37th-minute goal for K’Ogalo in the end turned out to be a mere consolation.The Cup loss came about four weeks after Gor Mahia had officially failed to successfully defend their league title following their 1-1 draw with AFC Leopards in a Mashemeji Derby match held on Monday, 2 June at the Raila Odinga Stadium, Homa Bay (ROSH).The net effect was that Gor Mahia ended the season without a single trophy, having bottled both the league and the cup and will miss participation in the CAF Interclub competitions.##NAJAVA_MECA_9004576##But how did K’Ogalo’s season begin? What were the managerial changes and their effect? Who are their best and worst signings? What of the technical bench drama in the season? Remember the Rooney Onyango transfer saga? And the chaos at Gusii Stadium?Mozzart Sport takes a look at Gor Mahia’s season, putting it into perspective, including where the rain started beating them.Gor came into the season on the back of winning a second successive title under the then head coach Jonathan McKinstry, who announced his departure from the club to join The Gambia national team in a similar role before the end of the 2023/24 season.Bradford City manager provides transfer update on Harambee Stars defenderIn his place, the 21-time league champions appointed Brazilian tactician Leo Neiva, who took charge of pre-season friendlies and before they officially began the season with a CAF Champions League first round match against El Merreikh Bentiu of South Sudan.Despite suffering a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, K’Ogalo thrashed the South Sudanese outfit 5-1 to progress to the second round, where they were eliminated by Egyptian giants Al Ahly 6-0 on aggregate.While K’Ogalo was backed by pundits to successfully defend their title, they started struggling in the league, even as they played catch-up matches.##NAJAVA_MECA_9004835##Managerial Changes and Technical Bench DramaJust four months into Neiva’s tenure, the Brazilian was sent packing on Wednesday, 13 November 2024, following a four-match winless streak and a tenure marred by fans’ violence due to poor results.Neiva’s assistant, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, was appointed on an interim basis, but in February, the club hired Croatian Sinisa Mihic following inconsistent results posted in Zico’s tenure that left the club eight points behind Kenya Police FC.On Friday, 4 April, just two months after his appointment, Mihic was involved in an altercation with Zico, his other assistant, Michael Nam and Team Manager Victor Nyaoro in a video that went viral.Kakamega Homeboyz chairman cries foul after Moses Shumah’s unveiling in ZambiaMihic ejected the three from his training, vowing never to work with them, but the matter was swiftly solved by the management, with the three burying the hatchet.However, drama continued, and in May, Mihic prematurely stormed out of Dandora Stadium in a match against Sofapaka after his assistants allegedly refused to make correct substitutions in a match where he was serving a red card ban.On Monday 19 May, both the club and the Croatian had had enough of themselves and parted ways on mutual consent with Zico again appointed as interim coach, the fourth managerial change of the season.##NAJAVA_MECA_9004850##These changes are part of what affected K’Ogalo’s season, according to vice captain Geoffrey ‘Simiti’ Ochieng.“When you have several changes in a season, players have to adapt to different tactics and philosophies throughout the season.This meant we also had different first 11s in the season as preferred by each manager, and that made it difficult to find a rhythm as a team,” Ochieng told Mozzart Sport.Gor Mahia kicks off hunt for coach with tough-as-nails conditionsRooney SagaK’Ogalo’s season was also not free of transfer controversy. The club was involved in a transfer saga with Tanzanian side Singida Black Stars over the transfer of Ronney OnyangoGor Mahia had reportedly agreed to sell Onyango, who has since joined Norwegian second-tier side Sogndal Fotball, to Singida in January, with the Tanzanian side paying USD40,000 (approximately Ksh5.16 million) as the agreed transfer fees.However, the player and the club changed their minds, but K’Ogalo were meant to refund Singida their money, with the Tanzanian side threatening to take legal action.##NAJAVA_MECA_9004842##To date, it is unclear what became of the fee, but it is believed that K’Ogalo sent it back for fear of legal action.Gusii Stadium and Mozzart Bet Cup chaosOn Sunday, 4 May, there were chaotic incidents involving Gor Mahia and Shabana fans before, during and after their encounter, with scores of fans injured during the melee.The high-risk match was played at Gusii Stadium despite security fears owing to the sporting and political environment between supporters of both clubs.Blow for Harambee Stars as FKFPL top scorer is ruled out of CHAN after Zambia moveGor Mahia blamed the violence, which largely affected their fans, with over 100 injured, as per the club, on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).Fast forward, the club’s fans broke through the inner perimeter barrier of Ulinzi Sports Complex during the Mozzart Bet Cup final, baying for Zico’s blood after they were beaten by Nairobi United.The former KCB FC head coach was whisked to safety by stewards and hid behind the chairs of the VIP lounge with fans destroying some stadium amenities in the process, but police were quick to disperse them and restore calm.##NAJAVA_MECA_9004900##Best SigningGhanaian midfielder Enock Morrison is arguably K’Ogalo’s best and most impactful signing of the season after joining from Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko.Morrison was an influential and impactful figure in midfield, especially in the first half of the season, but saw a dip in form towards the end of the campaign.Worst SigningWhile there were several appalling signings that the 21-time league champions made in the season, especially for foreign players, Congolese goalkeeper Giscard Mavongou, who has never made an appearance for the club, ranks at the top of the unwanted list.Benson Omala’s mum reaction after watching sons battle in Mozzart Bet Cup finalSince he joined in mid-season, Mavongou has been missing from the starting lineup either on the coach’s decision or due to injury.Others are Congolese Gedeon Bandeka, Ugandan duo of Chris Bbaale and Pius Akena and Cameroonian winger Patrick Esombe.ConclusionIn the end, Gor Mahia’s executive office responded to the club’s poor performance by sacking the entire technical bench, including the medical staff and members of the club’s security##NAJAVA_MECA_9007283##Additionally, the club sent packing its CEO, Raymond Oruo, after four years at the helm of operations.For Ochieng, not even his previous league titles could soothe his agony.“All the players are disappointed. For Gor Mahia, it is an abomination to have such a season, and we are sincerely sorry to everyone associated with the club, especially the fans whom we really let down.Government completes Ksh6.7 billion renovation of Kasarani Stadium [VIDEO]It was supposed to be my sixth title, and I am personally very disappointed to have missed it,” he said.In order to reclaim the league title, Ochieng says Gor Mahia must start early preparations, including finding members of both the technical bench and playing unit.“We would need to have a new technical bench constituted as early as possible, make early changes to the playing unit, if any and then begin pre-season early.Everything starts at pre-season, and the earlier we start it, the bette,r unlike the just concluded season where we had ‘pre-seasons’ during the season,” stated Ochieng.
