McKinstry explains difference in Gor Mahia squad compared to last season

McKinstry during a training session with Gor Mahia. (Gor Twitter).

FKFPL McKinstry explains difference in Gor Mahia squad compared to last season

Mark Kinyanjui 10:31 - 20.10.2023

K’Ogalo are currently second in the league standings on 12 points, four behind league leaders Posta Rangers after six games played.

Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has expressed satisfaction at the tactical flexibility of his new-look side in contrast to the one he inherited when he was appointed in 2022.

K’Ogalo are currently second in the league standings on 12 points, four behind league leaders Posta Rangers after six games played, but the manner in which they have won their games has varied, underpinning their tactical flexibility.

In some games, they have blatantly outplayed their opponents by implementing flowing football and in others, they have adopted a physical approach.

McKinstry has praised Gor Mahia’s recruitment for giving him the tools to be able to set up his team to mitigate respective opposition weaknesses.

“Yeah, last season, we were very slim obviously in terms of the roster. We only had 18 outfield players in the first leg,” McKinstry said.

“We were doing so well that even when we signed players, you do not want to tinker with it too much, we want to keep those who are doing well.

“We had a very clear strategy in the off-season. We knew which players we needed to add, and that was not even it, we let some players go which was a very difficult decision.

“You have to make difficult decisions to take the step forward sometimes and so, we added good technical, speed, experience, and also good players physically.”

“We can beat teams playing football, we can beat teams playing physical if they want and you need that. It is a long season and you need to have different weapons you need to use.”

Gor Mahia will face Tusker in their seventh league game of the season with plenty at stake for both sides.

While Gor Mahia emerged victorious in the first leg of the previous season with a 2-1 scoreline, the second leg ended in a 0-0 draw.

The overall statistics over the last six league meetings show Tusker's advantage, having won three matches to Gor Mahia's one, with two encounters concluding in draws.

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