Coach Oktay’s Long Journey to Winning April’s Best Tactician Award

Could it be the dawn for Gor Mahia?

Despite their tearful withdrawal from the continental competitions, K’Ogalo have got something here to smile about and wipe their tears.

It was painful to see the Green Army succumb to defeat in the CAF competition, a journey that was marred by violence, heartbreaks, and financial inadequacy.

K’Ogalo also did not deliver good performance in the Sportpesa super cup, where they were bundled out in early stages although they were the defending champions. What a shame!

But Gor took heart. They shifted their entire attention to Kenya Premier League.

Gor Mahia have had a good run since then, winning most of the matches that came across them.

The good run enabled them to get their face back in the League and took back the lead as it is usual to them, thanks to their tactical coach Hassan Oktay.

Hassan Oktay joined Gor last year December. Oktay has replaced Dylan Kerr, who quit the club to sign for South African Premier League side Black Leopards. Oktay, a Cypriot of Turkish origin, agreed to pen a two-year contract with the Kenyan Premier League champions.

A day after sealing their victory in the Kenya Premier League, Oktay has been named April Fidelity Insurance Coach of the Month Award winner. It is Oktay’s second monthly gong in three months having been feted in February.

The Turk guided K’Ogalo to bagging five wins two draws and a walk over which came after Mount Kenya FC failed to honor their fixture.

“This feels like a fair reward for a difficult job. I’m happy for what my team accomplished,” the Jubilant Oktay exclaimed before launching into the so-called big teams for not offering sufficient challenge.

“We have dropped points against teams sitting lower in the table but for the big games, there was no competition. We prepared for the big games then they turn out to be walks in the park,” he continued.

A list of teams that have earned Oktay the award

Gor Mahia launched the month with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Nzoia Sugar in Kisumu on 1st of April before beating Sony Sugar 3-2 two days later.

A1-1 draw against Kakamega Homeboyz was followed by a similar scoreline when they took on Ulinzi Stars. K’Ogalo would then gather themselves and squeeze one past Bandari before they were awarded a walkover against already relegated Mount Kenya United. They followed up their brilliant campaign with a 2-0 win over Tusker before wrapping the month with a 2-1 win over Ulinzi Stars.

Oktay who guided the champions to the quarter finals of the CAF Confederations Cup garnered 12 points in a poll conducted by an SJAK panel to beat Kakamega Homeboyz’ Nicholas Muyoti and AFC Leopards’ Andrew Cassa Mbungo to the gong.

Oktay becomes the fourth recipient of the award in the ongoing 2018-2019 season after Western Stima’s Paul Ogai , Mathare United’s Francis Kimanzi and John Baraza of Sofapaka.

Gor Mahia coach Hasan Oktay receives a personalized plaque from Fidelity Insurance Marketing Manager Nicholas Malesi at Camp Toyoyo when he was crowned April Coach of the Month.

 

 

 

 

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