Gor Mahia coach has slammed some of his players in the wake of K’Ogalo’s 2-0 victory over FC Talanta that preserved their unbeaten run and saw them open a four-point lead
Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKisntry has criticised some of his players for not working hard enough during matches.
McKinstry made four changes to his starting XI as Gor Mahia beat FC Talanta 2-0 on Sunday to maintain their unbeaten run and open a four-point lead.
The coach feels the changes were necessary after he was left less than impressed by some of his players during their 2-2 draw with Nzoia Sugar a week earlier.
08:00 - 18.12.2023
FKFPL Gor Mahia captain discloses team's agenda on Benson Omala and golden boot
Omala missed out on the title of top scorer last season after Elvis “Machapo” Rupia narrowly beat him to the award by scoring a record-breaking 27 goals.
K’Ogalo went down 2-0 before recovering to share the spoils with Nzoia, something the tactician has attributed to a lack of hard work among some of his player who he hopes can start putting in the shift.
“What we were not happy about a week ago was that in those first 20-30 minutes, I just felt there were some guys who were not doing the running,” McKinstry said on Sunday.
“We always say talent, technique, the special sparkle in the game is all great but it has to come after the hard work, the running and I thought there were few people who needed reminding on that.
“We selected a team and squad today, of guys who would run 100 miles for the team but they are not worried about themselves and they want to play for the badge and there are some other guys who need to learn that a little bit.”
Emery Bayisenge, Kevin Juma, Austin Odhiambo and Patrick Sibomana dropped to the bench with Joshua Onyango, Lawrence Juma, Boniface Omondi and Bryson Wangai coming into the starting XI but Gor had to wait until the second half to break the deadlock.
It was one of the substitutes Austin Odhiambo who orchestrated the victory as he came of the bench to set up Boniface Omondi for the opening goal before scoring the second to make the points safe.
“We knew that by playing two strikers, that Talanta would fall into a rhythm of defending against them and when the correct moment of the game came to put some creative in, Talanta could not pick them up and that is what we saw,” added McKinstry.
“Ten minutes into the half Austin Odhiambo came on and for those first five-10 minutes Talanta had nobody marking him because it was like a new position on the pitch and he capitalised on that, we scored two great goals and [he was] involved in a lot of our good stuff.”
Victory left Gor Mahia top of the table with 31 points, four ahead of Kakamega Homeboyz, KCB and Posta Rangers, who are all tied on 27.
21:00 - 17.12.2023
FKFPL AFC Leopards outclass Kakamega Homeboyz in pulsating encounter
Goals by Clifton Miheso and Hassan Beja who scored his first goal in Ingwe colours was enough to get the Tomas Trucha-coached outfit back to winning ways.
Follow Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more news.