Gor Mahia, the FKF Premier League’s most decorated club, is on the hunt for a new head coach as Jonathan McKinstry prepares to depart at the season’s end.
The club has been inundated with over 20 applications from both local and international coaches, some with experience in Kenyan and European football, according to Club Chairman Ambrose Rachier.
The selection process is set to be thorough, with Rachier emphasizing the need for a meticulous vetting procedure to find a worthy successor to McKinstry, who has been instrumental in securing the club’s 21st league title and a place in the upcoming CAF Champions League. McKinstry himself is expected to recommend a candidate, although this nominee will undergo the same stringent evaluation as other applicants.
In the interim, Assistant Coach Michael Nam will take the reins as the club sifts through the potential candidates. Rachier highlighted the importance of understanding each applicant’s history, achievements, and coaching prowess to ensure the best fit for the team.
The new coach will also have the crucial task of scouting and recruiting new talent to strengthen the squad for the challenges of the CAF Champions League.
Rachier assured that while McKinstry had his preferences for next season’s lineup, the incoming coach would have complete autonomy in finalizing the team roster, with the club’s full support.
Gor Mahia stands out in the CECAFA region as the only team to have won a continental title, the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup, back in 1987.
The club’s legacy is a beacon for other regional teams striving for continental glory, with Tanzania’s Yanga FC coming close in the previous year’s CAF Confederations Cup final. The search for a new coach is not just about maintaining domestic dominance but also about continuing to make an impact on the African football stage.
