Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia have ushered in a new era with the appointment of an experienced Ghanaian coaching duo to lead their technical bench. Former Ghana national team coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has been named the club’s new head coach, bringing with him a wealth of international and club-level experience.
Akonnor will be assisted by his compatriot Bismark Kobi-Mensah, who previously managed Ghana Premier League sides Great Olympics and Karela United. The pair’s arrival signals Gor Mahia’s ambition to reassert their dominance in the Kenyan football scene and challenge for continental success.
The club has also fortified its backroom staff with the addition of former Ghana U20 goalkeeper coach Ben Owu, who takes charge of the goalkeeping department. Owu is widely respected for his role in youth football development and is expected to bring a fresh level of professionalism and expertise to Gor Mahia’s goalkeeping unit.
Complementing the new technical team is the appointment of Brian Odongo as the team doctor. Odongo, a certified sports medicine specialist, boasts extensive experience across multiple sports disciplines. His inclusion reflects the club’s commitment to prioritizing player health and injury prevention throughout the upcoming season.
Akonnor enjoyed a distinguished playing career that saw him rise from local Ghanaian football with Young Hearts to captain Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. During his time in Germany, he made over 140 appearances and scored more than 20 goals. On the international stage, he earned 51 caps for Ghana, scoring 13 goals and captaining the Black Stars from 1998 to 2001. He also represented the country in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and featured in the 1996 Olympics, helping Ghana reach the quarterfinals.
His coaching résumé includes stints with Ghanaian clubs such as Hearts of Oak, Dreams FC, Ashanti Gold, and Asante Kotoko. He led Kotoko to victory in the 2019 GFA Normalization Committee Special Competition. In 2020, he was appointed head coach of the Ghana national team, a position he held until 2021.
Gor Mahia’s latest moves reflect a strategic vision aimed at building a technically solid, well-managed team capable of achieving domestic and continental success in the seasons ahead.
