• Ghost said the 20-time league champions are not playing at their full capacity and this was likely to cost them their title.
• Ghost lauded league leaders Posta Rangers for their good run but warned that their financial struggles might come to bite them in the near future.
Image: HANDOUT
Former Harambee Stars head coach Jacob Ghost Mulee believes defending Champions Gor Mahia must strengthen their squad if they hope to retain their Kenya Premier League title.
K'Ogalo are currently second on the log with 21 points—a point behind leaders Posta Rangers, having played 11 matches—winning five, drawing six, and losing none.
Ghost said the 20-time league champions are not playing at their full capacity and this was likely to cost them their title.
Reflecting on Gor's goalless draw against Muranga Seal, Ghost said: "I don't think they have played at their full capacity because when you look at their game against Murang'a, they were not able to take control of the game. That's the case with most of their games and that's why they accumulated all those draws.''
''You then start questioning whether they are good enough to replicate what they did last season. What they need to do is boost their squad for the second leg if they really want to control their games and win back-to-back titles,'' he added.
Ghost lauded league leaders Posta Rangers for their good run but warned that their financial struggles might come to bite them in the near future.
Rangers are leading with 22 points having played 11 games with six wins four draws and one loss. "Posta have started off very well. They haven't been displaced from that position after playing 11 games.
"They only blundered in a few games. One thing is clear; they are struggling financially. They are able to motivate themselves and get good results. For them, money is not everything but in the near future that will cost them," said Ghost.
He admitted that Muranga Seal led by Gabriel Njoroge are the surprise team and will shock everyone in the league.
Muranga Seal hold the third position with the same points as Gor (21) but goal difference separates the two sides. They have picked up six wins, three draws, and two losses from 11 games.
"For Muranga, it is the complete opposite of Posta. They have the facilities, their own stadium, sponsorship and they have an experienced coach. They are going to give a lot of teams a run for their money," he said.
Commenting on his former side Tusker, who are number 10 with 14 points—eight behind league leaders, Mulee said they have fumbled at the start and It is a very difficult site to predict.
Eight points is not so much and Matano has the capability to close the gap. They start on the low side most of the time and they finish on a high in the end."
The gaffer is glad the brewers shifted their home games to Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos— away from the poor state of Ruaraka ground.
"I believe Ruaraka was a disadvantage for Tusker because that pitch is in a very bad state. Top-flight football should not be played there. Switching to Kenyatta, which is a better Stadium, will enable them to perform better," added Ghost.
The former coach also gave his views on the current situation of Sofapaka who sits at the bottom of the table on seven points after eleven matches.
"Sofapaka situation is unfortunate. When they brought Harry Harigingo, I thought they were going to be good but five games later, he was sacked. Akwana comes in and he is not so bad but I think for Sofapaka, there is more to it than meets the eye. Yes, sometimes in football, you win one match and lose another but for them, they are very inconsistent,'' said Ghost.
"David Ouma was there as the technical director but left, Ken Odhiambo was there he left, Harigingo came for only five games and was sacked. The league is proving to be unpredictable even for the coaches. They don't know for how long they will keep their job,'' he added.
Ghost urged teams to give their coaches time to do their job.
''I don't think that's a very good thing. A lot of club owners do not understand how football works. They get too emotional, firing coaches over one game. Look at what happened to Simba, Tanzania, the coach lost only one game and was sacked. That shows you the managerial issues we have.
''You have to give coaches time. Let us not behave like our football is top in the world,'' he concluded.