‘Don’t blame McKinstry, blame ‘casual’ players’ – K'Ogalo fans

© Gor Mahia

FOOTBALL: ‘Don’t blame McKinstry, blame ‘casual’ players’ – K'Ogalo fans

Kiplagat Sang 17:00 - 22.06.2023

The coach has been the subject of criticism, but a section of fans have come out in his defence.

A section of Gor Mahia fans have shielded head coach Johnathan McKinstry and blamed the players instead, for inexcusable complacency during their sour 3-2 loss to Kakamega Homeboyz on Wednesday.

The loss at Kasarani dented K’Ogalo’s title dreams, although the club has a chance to claim the trophy on the final day.

A fan going by the name Deported MCA, defended the Irish tactician, saying the squad is the weakest.

"The coach is not to blame. It is the players. The first blunder was made by the goalkeeper [Gad Mathews], and even the third one was his blunder," Deported MCA told Pulse Sports.

"He has tried, but we always do not win the league with a point; we do it with eight or even 10 points ahead.

"This is the worst squad we have had at Gor Mahia since 2012. This [Homeboyz] is not a team to defeat Gor Mahia. This was a team that Gor Mahia should have defeated very early, but the players relaxed.

Wadindo Akeyo, echoed MCA’s sentiments and attempted to explain how the team lost.

"Having watched the game, I think the players took the game casually from the very onset," he said.

After scoring early, they assumed this ‘is ours’ and knowing that Tusker were trailing, the players did not give their all. They were playing casually with backpasses, and the movement was not flowing.

"After they scored the second, they went back into their casual nature, and you could see all the matches Gor Mahia have lost; against Posta Rangers and AFC Leopards, their casual nature is to blame."

To Akeyo, Homeboyz were determined and lauded the coach for working with a squad he described as weak.

"Kakamega Homeboyz wanted to win, and you could see that they were weak all through the match. Gor had the chances," he continued.

"I still think the coach does not know his team well. But kudos to him, he has reached where he has with this squad; this is the weakest squad Gor Mahia have had since 2012."

However, Karl Rombo feels McKinstry should be blamed, especially for how he made his changes.

"I’m disappointed by this game because Gor Mahia did not come with the determination to become champions," said Rombo. "Maybe the coach is yet to understand his players well.

"His fielding is still a problem. How can you bring in a holding midfielder when the score is 2-2? He should have brought on a striker who would have added strength up front."

Jaro Soja, a famed Gor Mahia fan, called for the club to be given the necessary support during their next title-deciding game against Nairobi City Stars.

"The City Stars game is a must-win, and we plead with the fans to come to the stadium in their numbers to give the players the morale they showed in the last game," Soja said.

"We still have hopes because there is one game remaining."