Gor Mahia coach Akonnor apologises to fans after 1-0 Mashemeji Derby loss to AFC Leopards
Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor has apologised to fans after a 1-0 Mashemeji Derby defeat to AFC Leopards, blaming mindset and aggression issues and promising a stronger response in upcoming matches.
Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has apologised to the club’s supporters following a disappointing 1-0 defeat to AFC Leopards in Sunday’s Mashemeji Derby, admitting the loss “meant a lot” to him personally and promising a swift response in the coming matches.
The Ghanaian tactician, overseeing his first derby since joining K’Ogalo, said he fully understood the weight of the fixture and the expectations surrounding it.
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“I feel deeply sorry for our loss,” Akonnor said during the post-match press briefing. “This match meant a lot not just to the fans, but to me as a coach in my career. The fact that we lost, we don’t have any excuse. I know the fans always say you can lose any match, but not this derby. I am deeply sorry.”
He added that the only way to honour that disappointment was to respond immediately.
“To move on and be better, we have to try and win our next matches,” he said.
Akonnor insisted Gor Mahia had started the match strongly, executing their early plan well with a back three formation before quickly adapting when pressure mounted.
“We started well. The plan worked at the beginning,” he explained. “We played in a back three but had to change immediately because we saw things were not going well. After solving that, we still failed to do what was needed.”
According to him, the problem was not tactical, but mental.
“Sometimes we stop,” he lamented. “We defend very well early, the opponent is struggling, and then suddenly we stop doing the basics. That, for me, is a major problem.”
Asked why Gor Mahia struggle to respond after conceding—a pattern seen in recent matches—Akonnor dismissed the idea that it was a tactical flaw.
“It’s the mindset,” he said. “In football, you see yourself winning at times, and losing at times. Recovering is mental. Sometimes we rush to equalise instead of keeping calm.”
He added that Gor Mahia’s biggest weakness lies in their play after losing the ball.
“We like to play, but what do you do without the ball? That’s where our problem is. We are not aggressive enough to win it back.”
Akonnor singled out the midfield as an area that lacked intensity and urgency.
“Our midfield is a problem because they are not aggressive enough to win the ball,” he said. “Even if we play a back three or a back four, you still have to win the ball. You cannot just play without the willingness to tackle.”
He suggested that Gor Mahia’s technical quality is not in question, but their hunger is.
“We play, we pass, we keep possession, but some players only want to play. Determination is key. Every team that faces Gor Mahia is motivated. If you don’t match their determination, you will struggle.”
Pressed on the body language and desire shown by some players, especially in midfield, the coach admitted that standards had slipped.
“Players need to learn,” he said. “We were so good before; maybe something is getting into their heads. Certain things we used to do, we are no longer doing. That is a problem.”
He defended his squad, saying they are not “terribly bad,” but promised adjustments if necessary.
“Of course, that’s why I’m here. I’ll make sure we work it out. If it goes beyond this, then we will think, rethink, and do it right. There are options to look at; we might have to strengthen one or two areas.”
Though this was his first Mashemeji Derby in charge, Akonnor acknowledged that Gor Mahia fans had already educated him on the unique weight of the fixture.
“This match meant a lot to both teams,” he reiterated. “I know what the derby means. I am sorry we lost.”
The coach insisted the title race is long, and Gor Mahia still have the quality to recover, provided the team rediscovers its intensity.
“We must be aggressive, we must keep the ball in play, and we must fight,” he said.
Gor Mahia now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures as they attempt to stabilise a season that has produced strong spells of football, but recurring issues of mentality, composure, and aggression continue to be brutally exposed by their fiercest rivals.
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