Gor Mahia head coach Sinisa Mihic has shared a critical assessment of his team’s performance despite securing a 2-1 victory over Mathare United in the FKF Premier League on Saturday at Dandora Stadium. While the win marked Mihic’s first in charge of the club, the coach was not entirely pleased with the overall display, pointing out several areas where his team fell short.
Mathare United took an early lead in the 16th minute, with Elli Asieche capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Gor Mahia. The goal came as a result of a miscommunication in the Gor Mahia defense, a situation that Mihic found concerning. However, the K’Ogalo side responded in the 35th minute through Alphonce Omija, who leveled the score before the halftime break.
In the second half, Gor Mahia regained the lead when Ghanaian midfielder Enock Morrison scored a penalty in the 76th minute. The penalty ensured the win for Mihic’s side, but the coach was quick to point out that the performance was not up to the standard he expected. While securing all three points was important, Mihic felt there was much room for improvement, especially in terms of tactical execution and finishing.
“I am not satisfied with some small tactical things,” Mihic admitted in his post-match interview. “In the first half, we invited them into our half and conceded a goal. We wanted to maintain ball possession, but we overcomplicated it. We needed to push up with a midfielder to relieve pressure, play more vertically, and connect better in support,” he said. The coach further explained that the team’s failure to convert chances made the players nervous, a factor he believed added unnecessary pressure during the match.
Mihic also addressed the difficulty of playing on a pitch that was not conducive to his desired style of play. “On that kind of pitch, where the ball is bouncing too much, it’s very difficult. You must play more vertical football, which we did after making some changes with fresh players,” he noted. The bouncing ball on the uneven surface made it tough to implement the team’s usual passing game, and Mihic felt that a more direct, vertical approach was necessary under those conditions.
The victory, however, moved Gor Mahia to 34 points in the league standings, just behind the joint leaders, Kenya Police and Tusker FC, both with 38 points. As the league enters a crucial phase, Mihic emphasized the importance of addressing the tactical and technical deficiencies in the team’s play. The coach’s focus will be on ensuring the players remain focused and improve their decision-making and efficiency in front of goal as they aim for a stronger title challenge in the coming matches.
Although Mihic recognized the value of winning, his assessment of the match showed that he is not content with just the result. He is committed to making necessary adjustments and ensuring that his team performs at a higher level in the future. “Now, I have seen my team in a real game. I know more than before. But once again, winning is always good. Three points are important. We need to be happy but also correct our mistakes,” Mihic concluded.
As Mihic looks to build on this win, his goal will be to fine-tune his team’s performance, develop better cohesion, and push for a title push as the season progresses. Despite the victory, the focus remains on continuous improvement for Gor Mahia.
