BY Nick Okello
A huge congratulations to the K’Ogalo family on dominating the awards last night. Football Kenya Federation did well to fete all those that brought glory to the beautiful game this season, and Gor Mahia was true to it’s billing as the husband of teams.
The team swept four awards on different categories with wonder coach Mr. Jonathan Mckinstry bagging the award for coach of the year after steering K’Ogalo to it 21st championship. He did it in style after losing only three games of the 34 played last season, plus the community shield which he delivered against Kakamega Homeboyz in the season’s opener.
His award was received on his behalf by Gor Mahia operations manager Mr. Jolawi Obondo. Mr. Mckinstry rushed to his social media platforms to thank the federation for awards . He has since left K’Ogalo for The Gambia national team.
Kevin Omondi took the golden glove award after keeping 22 clean sheets, and conceding the least number of goals in the league. The custodian took over from Gad Mathews who scooped the award last season.
Goal poacher Benson Omalla made it right this time after losing out last season by just 2 goals. He bagged the golden boot award after scoring 18 goals in the season. Omalla now has scored 43 goals for Gor Mahia FC in the last 2 seasons alone in the league!
The former Kisumu day student is surely scaling the heights interms of banging in the goals, and the K’Ogalo fraternity hope that he will carry that good form to the Champions League that will kick off in two weeks time.
Austin Odhiambo aka Austo was with out doubt, the Most Valuable Player ( MVP) for Gor Mahia FC and the KPL at large. He managed to score 14 goals in all competitions for K’Ogalo in the just ended season. He was also the creative player in the league owing to his over 10 assists both for club and country. The star from Baba Dogo was the cog in the wheel, and turned out to be coach Jonathan Mckinstry’s dependable ball carrier in the dangerous zone.
Austin’s work rate in the pitch of play was laudable. He scored frequently from dead ball situations, he had beautiful forward runs in to defenders. He also engineered beautiful defense slipting passes to his mates that culminated in to numerous goals.
Austin can shoot powerfully on both legs! I remember asking coach Jonathan Mckinstry in one of my interviews if he would tell Austin’s weakest foot…” I can’t really tell, he’s just magical”, the Irish tactian replied. Austin Odhiambo is a constant danger on the ball and has mastered the art of creating scoring opportunities while drawing two or three defenders on him… He did this even at the national stage with Harambee stars. Though national manager Egin Firat has had misgivings with player, this award should have him rethink his position about the star boy.
As the team now heads out next week for a pre-season tournament in Enugu – Nigeria, these awards coupled by the new signings who will be unveiled on Monday, should put the team in a better position than it was this season.
The new Brazilian coach Mr. Leo Neiva has his work cut out. Building this team to compete on the continental stage is no mean feat, and he has began putting down his tactics for that glory, which the team now needs.