Gor Mahia, Mathare coaches downplay tense sideline exchange, urge focus

A brief moment of commotion following Gor Mahia’s 2-0 victory over Mathare United on Thursday evening sparked speculation among fans.

However, both head coaches, Charles Akonnor of Gor Mahia and John Kamau of Mathare United, have downplayed the incident, describing it as a misunderstanding in the heat of competition.

Akonnor, speaking shortly after the match, clarified that there was no confrontation or disrespect intended toward his counterpart. The Ghanaian tactician said the issue stemmed from a simple case of miscommunication before kickoff.

“I think he wanted to greet me before the game started, but I wasn’t around,” Akonnor explained. “I don’t remember him coming to say good luck or anything like that. After the match, he finished his interview, and I was leaving when he wanted to say something. It’s one of those things, he’s not in a happy mood after losing, and I can understand that.”

Akonnor emphasised that such incidents are common in football, especially in competitive league matches.

“In football, emotions run high, especially when the game matters,” he said. “It’s nothing personal. I respect Mathare United and their coach, and I prefer to focus on the positives from our win rather than dwell on a small misunderstanding.”

Kamau offered his own explanation, insisting there was nothing sinister about the exchange. He described the situation as “a matter of principle,” stemming from what he perceived as a lack of a pre-match greeting.

“It was very simple,” Kamau said. “I think when we started the game, if you don’t greet me before the match, why do you want to greet me after? You have your reason, and I have mine. We are professionals; if you don’t greet me, I don’t greet you. It’s as simple as that. But I think the people around made it look bigger than it was.”

He added that he didn’t feel disrespected, clarifying that his reaction was merely in response to what he saw as inconsistent courtesy.

“I didn’t feel disrespected at all,” Kamau explained. “It’s just simple communication; if someone doesn’t say hi before the game, then I don’t see the need to do it after. I’m a Christian, and I don’t believe in black magic or anything like that. I believe in the Rosary, and that’s it.”

After addressing the minor touchline issue, Kamau turned his attention to his team’s performance. He praised his players’ work rate and structure in the first half but admitted that defensive errors and missed opportunities proved costly.

“If I can sum up the game in terms of performance, I’m happy with the boys,” he said. “But result-wise, I’m not happy. In the first half, we played well-organised and compact, but in the second half, we lost focus and conceded from areas we had already corrected.”

Kamau revealed that the team’s congested travel schedule affected their rhythm and preparation.

“We travelled from Kisii after playing there, and we only had one training session before this match,” he noted. “The journey itself and the short recovery time had an impact, but still, we tried to adjust and simplify things for the players.”

Other Topics To Read

• urge focus
• Sports
• Football
• Headlines
• FKF Premier League
• FKF
• Gor Mahia
• Mathare United
• Charles Akonnor
• John Kamau
• Gor Mahia
• Mathare coaches downplay tense sideline exchange

He singled out key moments in the game where lapses in concentration proved costly.

“In the first half, we had some problems with (Musa) Shariff,” Kamau said. “He kept dominating one-on-one duels with my wingback, and when you have wingers like Kapeng and Shariff, you’ll get punished. We had just talked about it at halftime, but again, in the second half, the left wingback got caught inside, leaving space behind, and that’s where the first goal came from.”

Despite defensive concerns, Mathare created scoring chances that could have changed the game.

“We had two clear scoring opportunities in the first half and didn’t take them,” he lamented. “Football is a game of chances; if you don’t take yours, the opponent will. The second goal came from losing the ball in midfield, and it went directly into our net. That’s something we need to fix.”

Asked about the introduction of Musa Masika, Kamau explained that it was a tactical decision aimed at strengthening their midfield structure and wide play.

“Masika is a key player for us,” he said. “Last season, he was critical in helping balance our transitions. We brought him in to support the central midfielders because Gor’s full-backs were gaining ground quickly. We tried to stretch the play and press higher, but unfortunately, we conceded before our changes could settle.”

On whether fatigue played a role in the defeat, Kamau was measured in his response.

“It’s not really about fatigue,” he said. “Maybe the mental aspect of the game. When you play such an intense match like we did against Shabana and only train once before facing Gor, it can affect focus. But I don’t like using that as an excuse. We had our chances to score and didn’t, that’s the reality.”

Despite the setback, Kamau remained upbeat, choosing to focus on recovery and preparation for their next clash against AFC Leopards.

“I’ll go home and spend time with my family, they’re always my motivation,” he said. “Then I’ll review the match against Gor and see what we can improve. The turnaround time is short since we play again on Sunday, but we’ll find a way. We have 28 players in the squad, and I’ll give others a chance to step up.”

He concluded by defending his strikers despite missed chances, saying he prefers to encourage rather than criticise in the heat of competition.

“I like to focus on the positives,” Kamau said. “If a player misses a chance, we correct that in training. I don’t dwell on it in the dressing room. Elie has been our top scorer with four goals; sometimes strikers just have off days. We’ll fix that through video analysis and move forward.”

Both coaches have since brushed off the post-match drama, emphasising mutual respect and professionalism. The focus, they agree, now shifts back to football, with Akonnor’s Gor Mahia extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table, while Kamau’s Mathare United continue to search for consistency and finishing sharpness.