Shabana coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo believes Gor Mahia are not strong enough to genuinely challenge for titles and are benefiting from the poor performances of their Kenyan rivals.
According to Omollo, Gor Mahia’s success in winning the last two FKF Premier League titles is less about their own prowess and more about the weaknesses of other teams in the league.
K’Ogalo secured back-to-back titles, clinching the 2023-24 championship with three matches to spare. However, Pamzo criticizes teams like Tusker FC, Ulinzi Stars, KCB, and AFC Leopards for not putting up a strong challenge, pointing to Gor’s struggles in the Kagame Cup as evidence of their vulnerabilities.
Gor Mahia exited the Kagame Cup after losing two matches and drawing one, which Pamzo claims exposed their deficiencies. He argues that Gor Mahia are only dominating due to their rivals’ underperformance. “The CECAFA Kagame Cup exposed the weaknesses of Gor Mahia and also, there is something to do with the transition of the new coach,” Pamzo told Radio 47 on Saturday.
“Gor Mahia have won the last two league titles because Tusker have slept, Ulinzi, KCB, and AFC have slept. These are the teams that should have been challenging them.
“They are winning the league not because they are good but because the rest are asleep. If these other teams had been doing well, there is no way Gor Mahia would have won the league.”
As Gor Mahia prepare for their return to the CAF Champions League, where they face Al Merreikh Juba of South Sudan in the first preliminary round and potentially Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the second round, Pamzo remains skeptical about their chances.
“They went to Tanzania and got exposed. If these teams were challenging Gor, they would not even have gone to the Kagame Cup,” he added.
“Even last season, there were games they were winning but struggling. Even when we played against them, we could see their weaknesses.”
Gor Mahia lost 1-0 to Red Arrows of Zambia, drew 1-1 with Djibouti Telecom, and ended their Kagame Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Al Hilal of Sudan.
This has been a reality check for new coach Leonardo Neiva as he seeks to maintain their dominance in Kenya and make an impact on the continental stage.
