Gor Mahia’s interim head coach, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, has identified a lack of concentration in the team’s defense as a major reason for conceding a goal against fierce rivals AFC Leopards.
In a post-match interview, the former Gor Mahia defender and club legend explained that they conceded a goal through set pieces, a recurring issue in many matches this season.
“I think a lack of concentration in defense cost us. In our previous game, we conceded from a throw-in, and today we allowed another easy goal from a set piece. It’s a concern, but I believe it’s something we can work on going forward,” Zico said.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, which was disappointing for the fans who filled the newly upgraded Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, as this was the first-ever derby played outside Nairobi.
Zico had strategized on how to overcome the pressure and secure a win, but he left the game feeling disappointed.
“I’m very disappointed because this is a match we had really planned to win. We were leading until that lapse in concentration in defense. It’s a sad day for us,” Zico added.
Gor Mahia is currently six points behind leaders Police FC, with both teams having two games remaining this season. Otieno acknowledged that the chances of retaining the league title are slim, and their best option now is to clinch the Mozzart Bet Cup when they face Nairobi United in the finals.
“I think now, there’s really no other chance for us apart from the knockout games. The gap is widening between us and Police FC, so we can’t focus on the league anymore. We need to concentrate on the Mozzart Cup,” Otieno noted.
With the Cup final approaching, Gor Mahia hopes to perform well enough to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.