Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has backed his side’s title credentials after K’Ogalo rescued a late 1-1 draw against Kenya Police FC at the iconic Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
Gor Mahia looked destined for defeat before substitute Ebenezer Assifuah struck in the 87th minute to earn the defending champions a crucial point in the FKF Premier League title race.
Speaking after the match, Akonnor praised his players’ fighting spirit and the impact made by his substitutes, insisting the team remains in a strong position with three matches left to play.
“We had a lot of ideas going into the second half, but I must say the opponent defended very well and stayed very deep in their box, which made things difficult for us,” said Akonnor.
The former Ghana international explained that Gor Mahia improved after the break and gradually took control of the game despite struggling to break down Police’s compact defence.
“In the second half we corrected a few things and controlled the game in a very positive way. The goals were not coming, but we managed to get the equalizer and that was good for us,” he added.
Akonnor also reserved special praise for Assifuah and midfielder Ben Stanley Omondi, who both came off the bench to influence the match.
“Sometimes you can win matches from the bench and that is the mentality these players have. Players like Assifuah and Stanley came in and did a very good job for us,” he stated.
The Gor Mahia tactician further described his side as a team capable of surviving difficult moments — a quality he believes is vital in a title race.
“In situations like this we could have gone home with a loss, but we managed to get a goal. That is the sign of a good team,” said Akonnor.
With Gor Mahia still firmly in contention for the league crown and nine points left to fight for, the coach warned against complacency despite the positive position his side currently occupies.
“We need to stay focused and continue believing in ourselves until the final match of the season. We don’t need to panic and we don’t need to put too much pressure on ourselves. We are doing well and we will continue to do well,” he concluded.
