Skipper Otieno still dreaming of more titles despite 2-year lull

Gor Mahia are hankering to plunge into the Kenyan Premier League action to charge for a historic 20th title.

And none other than team skipper Philemon Otieno has vowed to fire the traditional Kenyan giants to their erstwhile glory.

Otieno has been the club's main pillar on the battlefield right from the very moment he inherited the armband from his predecessor Kenneth Muguna who decamped to Azam in the Tanzanian Mainland Premier League.

Born on October 18, 1992, Otieno attended Baba Dogo Primary School before proceeding to former Kenya Secondary School Sports Association national champions Kamukunji High School, where he cut his teeth.

There, he brushed shoulders with Kenya's fledgling talent. The school is famed for producing some of the most cherished names in the industry including former Harambee Stars captain Dennis Oliech.

Otieno also refined his rudimentary skills through the comprehensive youth structures established at the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA).

“I began playing football when I was still very young, about seven years of age. I mostly featured in the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) organized competitions,” Otieno said.

“I played for both the Mathare Youth and Mathare United in the league. I started my professional career at Mathare, joined Mahakama and then Ushuru in the National Super League before I linked up with Gor Mahia.”

At Gor Mahia, he has bagged titles but still feels he needs to add some more feathers to his attractive cap.

Otieno said the record champions are determined to redeem their battered image after missing out on the top-flight title for two consecutive seasons. The only way to appease their loyal fans is to deliver the coveted trophy this season. “Our focus is to clinch the league when competition resumes,” Otieno said.

K'Ogalo's four-year predominance came to a dramatic end during the 2019 /2020 season when Tusker unexpectedly romped away to win the championship.

The Ruaraka-based brewers then pulled off yet another breath-taking upset on close challengers Kakamega Homeboyz, to retain the title last May.

But Otieno reckons the tide is about to change and their heartbreaking experiences in the last two seasons have provided pertinent lessons that can power them to another glory.

He has fired a warning shot to the title holders to brace up for a cutthroat contest this season, making their intentions of reclaiming their foothold quite clear.

“The mood in the camp is encouraging and I believe we borrowed some crucial lessons from the just-concluded season which we can use to turn the tide in our favor come the new season,” Otieno quipped.

The skipper extolled departed German gaffer, Andreas Spiers, for sprucing up the squad and firing them to a top-four finish after joining them in February. Otieno said they cracked the position under adverse circumstances.

“Spiers did a marvelous job during his time. His departure won't distract us from our main objective, which is to win the title next season.

“We must remain true to our goal as the playing unit. The management made the decision to part ways with him and I trust they had a good reason,” Otieno said.

He has tipped Spier's successor Jonathan McKinstry to garnish K'Ogalo's cabinet with more silverware. McKinstry took charge at K'Ogalo on July 29 on a two-year contract.

The Irish tactician is expected to better Spier's performance after K'Ogalo cracked a top-four finish in their last campaign.

McKinstry said he is aware that achieving a feat of that magnitude at a club of Gor's calibre calls for a calm and collected mind.

“There is always pressure when you go into a new environment because everyone thinks they should be winning. That's no different whether you are a big or small team,” McKinstry said.

“Gor has a rich history, filled with trophies and big players and big names and the supporters have a right to expect us to continue with that.”

McKinstry, 37, will draw on his ample experience as former coach of the Uganda and Rwanda national teams to garnish Gor's cabinet with coveted silverware.

“For me, that's not different from other roles I've held, including in national teams and I thrive in that. I look forward to working with staff, officials and players who thrive under that pressure."

“I'm just looking forward to the start of the league campaign,” McKinstry said.

He holds a Uefa Pro Licence. He parted ways with the Uganda Cranes in April 2021 after 18 months at the helm.

He guided the Cranes to 12 wins, three draws, and three defeats during his reign and rose to the limelight after firing the East African nation to the 2019 Cecafa title.

Otieno observed that the side experienced a hectic season after navigating the risky seas with budding stars recruited from the academy side.

“Our performance was satisfactory especially if you consider we finished in the fourth position yet we had six inexperienced players who had just been drafted from the youth team.”

“It was also the time we suffered a heavy blow after Fifa handed us a transfer ban.

Otieno said the Sh2 million they bagged from their Madaraka Day Cup victory against arch-rivals AFC Leopards on June 1, ameliorated K'Ogalo's financial constraints but the reprieve was only momentarily.

“On behalf of the playing unit, I wish to thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for the kind gesture he displayed when he gifted us the money. The money eased off a great deal of pressure at the club.”

With the arrival of a well-oiled shirt sponsor last Friday, Otieno believes the club will be in a position to plunge resources to bolster the squad with quality and experience.

The 19-time Kenyan champions unveiled betting firm Sportpesa as their new shirt sponsors on a three-year Sh80 million annual sponsorship deal.

Otieno pledged a splendid performance in the new season.

“I want to thank our new partners for coming back as our sponsors. We promise them a good performance. We won't let them down,” Otieno said.

The club has experienced a rough patch ever since the betting firm severed ties after helping them to thrive for years.

Sportpesa chief executive officer, Ronald Karauri said they were glad to strike a partnership with K'Ogalo for the second time in the club's history.

“I want to thank Rachier for making this happen. In our history, we've achieved so much with Gor. This is not only business. Mostly we were driven by the urge to improve the welfare of Gor Mahia players,” Karauri said.

He pointed out that their previous partnership was nipped in the bud by an extreme tax regime put in place by the government.

“Sometimes you fly so high that people start thinking about clipping your wings.”

“I agree with KPL clubs that we need to go back to a Fifa- sanctioned league and we shall ensure that happens. We want to get our football back to where it was before,” Karauri said.

“We thank you for allowing our relationship to foster. We are here today because of the good relationship we enjoyed in the past.”

Otieno weighed in on the prolonged impasse, pitting the country against the world football governing body, Fifa.

“Football stakeholders should put their heads together to find a lasting solution to the ongoing crisis. We need to put our house in order and move forward as a nation. The standoff isn't good for the players,” Otieno said

The Gor Mahia skipper says they have stropped their talons well enough to claw Ulinzi in their first encounter of the season at Nyayo Stadium.

“We are definitely ready for our opponents. We took a short break and we hope to resume as soon as the elections are over,” Otieno said in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

He says being a captain requires one to exercise a great deal of patience and understanding given the wide array of issues that surround clubs.

“Once you are a captain you are a leader and you must be ready to handle the team in both the good and bad times. Players arrive in training or for matches with their own challenges and a captain should be in a position to empathize with each situation,” Otieno said.

“Leadership positions come with responsibilities and that's normal in life,” Otieno said.

He reminisces about his successful journey with the national team, Harambee Stars at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. And what excites him, even more, is the opportunity to fly the country's flag in the most coveted continental showpiece in his maiden call-up.

“I'm happy with what I achieved with the national team. I was previleged to play for Kenya at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after joining the national team for the first time ever. I'm proud of my journey so far.”

“My best moment was when we played against Senegal. I was able to rub shoulders with some of the big players and that was quite an achievement for me.”

Otieno says he has a lot of blessings to enumerate in his years on the topflight stage. “I have won five league titles and four FKF cup titles.

He hopes to extend his good run into the new season where the club will gunning for a 20th league title. “Our objective is to perform well in the new season and we have began training in earnest.

Otieno said he didn't have it easy playing football in his formative years owing to his mother's indifference.

“I didn't have it easy playing football as a child. My mother would cane me frequently for arriving home late from training or even coming back home without shoes.”

But sooner than later, his mother realized she was fighting a losing battle after sustained efforts to discourage him from his passion landed in the ditch.

“As time went by, she appreciated the fact that playing football is not only fun but can also be a source of income. Through football, I have been able to educate my siblings.

His life as a national team player has not been all rosy and he is quick to single out his worst moment in the game of football.

“My worst moment in football came when we played Tanzania in an Afcon qualifier at Moi Stadium, Kasarani, where I got injured and I had to stay out for two full seasons.”