Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has praised his players for executing the club's tactical plan to perfection after K'Ogalo dismantled APR FC 5-0 in their opening Group A match of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Kigali.
The emphatic victory, secured through goals from Michael Kibwage, Patrick Essombe, Paul Okoth, Lesley Otieno and Ebenezer Assifuah, marked a dream start to Gor Mahia's campaign and underlined the progress the team has made despite being only two weeks into pre-season preparations.
Akonnor revealed that defensive organisation had been the team's main focus after identifying weaknesses during their pre-season defeat to Real Sports, adding that detailed analysis of APR's style of play enabled his side to exploit the Rwandan champions' vulnerabilities.
"As we are in pre-season and in our first match that we played, we realised that we showed some weakness defensively and it was so important for us to be well organised at the back and then go forward and play," Akonnor said.
"We've seen also the opponents, we saw a few matches they've played and we realised what we can do to outplay them, their strength, their weakness. We saw it and we showed it to our advantage and I think it went very, very well."
The Ghanaian tactician admitted he had not expected such a polished performance given the short time he has had with the squad but credited the players' discipline and commitment to the team's encouraging display.
"We are in our second week of training and for us to perform the way we did, I think it's very satisfying and good."
He explained that Gor Mahia's success came from maintaining a compact defensive shape before launching quick counter-attacks whenever possession was regained.
"Most of the time, we waited, we set the opponent up and then when we gain possession, we were quick to attack. I think we did it very, very well."
Akonnor also singled out the new signings for praise after several impressed on their competitive debuts, saying the club's recruitment drive was aimed at building enough depth to cope with both domestic and continental assignments.
"Because we are going to Champions League and travelling up and down into the league and all those things, it's very important that we have a very strong team that we can rely on. That is why we made those signings."
Despite the convincing victory, the former Ghana national team coach insisted Gor Mahia are still far from the finished product.
"The level, we are not yet there. What we plan to do, we are not yet there. It's just two weeks of training. Today is a very good sign, a positive sign, but this is not over."
Winger Shariff Musa, who played a key role in Gor Mahia's fourth goal after producing a brilliant run before setting up Lesley Otieno, attributed the team's impressive display to the growing understanding among the players.
"I think it's about the consistency level of being in the field. The chemistry with the players, we know each other well," Musa said.
"So most of the time we know where, who will be, who is supposed to be in each position. The moment I receive that ball, I have to do my job and bring something for the team. Then anybody else the ball falls to has to do his job. So I think it's about the chemistry."
The commanding victory sent Gor Mahia to the top of Group A ahead of Uganda's Vipers SC on goal difference, with Akonnor's side now turning their attention to Monday's clash against the Ugandan champions as they continue their pursuit of a first CECAFA Kagame Cup title since 1985.
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