For those still doing the math, calculating their chances of snatching the 2013 Tusker Premier League title from 'Sirkaal', am sorry to disappoint you-no chance! It won't happen. It has happened before in the last few seasons, most famously last year when Tusker won it with the last kick of the ball, literary, but no chance this year.
So what makes me so bullish about the 'Mighty K'ogalo's' prospects this year? Some analysts have claimed that Gor's playing unit is better this year. But I say, Gor Mahia have been strong the past few years- in fact, they should have won the league three or four times already, but they have gotten in the habit of spectacularly collapsing in the final stages of the season, all because of nerves, really. This time it has been totally different, and the club's fanatical followers, best known as 'the green army', must surely be preparing a feast - woe unto the fish!.
But to me, it is not the players- they had been performing well already, as I have intimated above. It is the coach. The moment I heard that the club had engaged former Uganda Cranes coach Robert Bobby Williamson, I knew something special was going to happen. The problem with Gor Mahia has been the lack of a coach with a winning mentality.
For all his eccentricity, in the mould of sacked Sunderland manager Paulo Di Canio, Croat Zdravco Logarusic could not help Gor's players hold their nerves together when it mattered most. But it has been different with Williamson whose calming approach has helped them remain focused even when things got somewhat uncomfortable.
The 52 years old Scot came to Gor with quite an impressive resume. Amongst the teams he has managed is Kilmarnock FC, the 2012 Scottish Communities League Cup Winners. He led the club to the 96-97 Scottish cup in his first season as Manager, beating Falkirk 1-0. He aslo led the club to European football.
In 2002 he took charge of Hibernian FC, who had gone 18 matches without a win, and won the first match, which kept the club safe from relegation. the club was forced to sell many senior players due to financial problems but he still led a team comprising of mostly young players to the 2004 Scottish League Cup final. He also won the Scottish Manager of the Month twice.
On appointment by Uganda, Mr Williamson was given an ultimatum to win the first two matches - and he did - against Niger and Benin. This started a steady climb on FIFA rankings for Uganda Cranes, and by the time he left the team, he had bagged four CECAFA titles - 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 - and Kenya had not managed to beat Uganda.
This is obviously a coach who has something to show in the form of trophies and results, something that not many coaches working in the country can brag about. If Gor Mahia manage to hold on to him, I can predict that the club shall win a regional, and even continental title soon. And - did FKF err in overlooking the Scotsman in favour of Adel Amrouche as Harambee Stars Coach? Time will tell.
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