Gor Mahia tightened their grip on the SportPesa League title race on Saturday. Still, head coach Charles Akonnor cut an unsatisfied figure despite the 2-1 victory over Mathare United at Nyayo Stadium.
While the result strengthened Gor’s title credentials, the Ghanaian tactician made it clear that he expects far higher standards from his side.
“We played well for most of the match and controlled the rhythm,” Akonnor said. “But when you dominate, you must close the door completely.”
Gor dictated large spells of the match and took the lead in the 67th minute after sustained pressure forced Mathare onto the back foot.
However, a lapse in concentration allowed Mathare to equalise in the 82nd minute — a moment that particularly frustrated the Gor coach.
“You cannot invest seventy minutes of discipline and then lose concentration for a few seconds,” Akonnor said. “Those seconds change games.”
For Akonnor, the concern goes beyond a single defensive error.
“We have to become ruthless in both boxes,” he stressed. “When we create chances, we must finish with conviction. When we defend, we must eliminate uncertainty.”
He was especially critical of his team’s game management late in the match.
“We gave them belief when the game should have been finished,” he said. “At higher levels, that belief becomes punishment.”
Despite Gor eventually regaining composure, winning a late penalty and securing all three points, Akonnor believes the team must learn to control matches more effectively.
“That goal was avoidable,” he admitted. “Structurally, we were organised, but awareness and communication must be sharper.
“Champions anticipate danger before it develops. We reacted late.”
Club captain Alpha Onyango acknowledged the coach’s frustration and said the players share his expectations.
“The coach is pushing us because he knows we can do better,” Onyango said. “We controlled the game, but we must manage those final moments with more maturity.”
The midfielder said the equaliser served as a warning rather than a setback.
“When they scored, we reminded ourselves to stay calm,” he said. “There was no panic. We trusted our structure.”
Despite holding a nine-point advantage at the top, Onyango insisted complacency is not an option.
“Being ahead on the table does not mean we relax,” he said. “It means we work harder because everyone wants to catch us.”
Akonnor also highlighted transitions as an area requiring improvement.
“Our build-up play is improving and our possession is structured,” he said. “But when we win the ball, we must attack faster and with clearer intention.”
He believes Gor’s next step lies in becoming more decisive.
“Modern football rewards speed of thought,” he said. “If we hesitate, opponents reorganise and the opportunity disappears.”
Gor Mahia now sit on 49 points from 22 matches with a healthy goal difference and a commanding advantage over their closest challengers.
But Akonnor insists the title race is far from over.
“The table reflects consistency,” he said. “But consistency must continue. We cannot assume anything.”
Attention now turns to the midweek clash against Posta Rangers, a fixture Akonnor expects to test his side’s discipline.
“Posta are organised and patient,” he said. “We must move the ball quickly and remain emotionally balanced.”
For Akonnor, the growing points gap offers little comfort. Results may be going Gor Mahia’s way, but the coach is demanding a level of control and ruthlessness he believes the team has yet to fully achieve.
