Gor Mahia’s title aspirations have hit a serious obstacle after coach Sinisa Mihic reportedly fell out with members of his technical staff, putting the team’s future under a cloud of uncertainty. The Croatian, who joined the club in February, was brought in to steer the FKF Premier League champions back to title contention after a shaky start under Brazilian head coach Leonardo Neiva.
Mihic’s tenure has been turbulent so far, but he has managed to guide the team into the thick of the title race, after succeeding Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, who had stepped into an interim coaching role following Neiva’s departure. However, recent developments suggest that Mihic’s leadership may be under threat from within his own camp.
The trouble began when Mihic reportedly had a fallout with some key members of his backroom staff, including Otieno, who had been demoted to assistant coach upon Mihic’s arrival. The situation escalated last Friday during a training session, which Otieno, in particular, skipped after a heated argument with the head coach.
Mihic was quoted expressing his frustrations, accusing the staff members of backstabbing and blackmailing him. He claimed that despite his efforts to support the team, even going as far as using his own funds to facilitate team activities, certain members of the backroom staff had been undermining his authority. “There is no way I’m going to work with them because I can’t be blackmailed,” Mihic said. “These are people I have tried to work with, lent them money. I have even used my own money to facilitate some of our activities on my own goodwill. Why are they sabotaging and fighting me?”
Mihic’s remarks point to a larger issue of trust and cooperation within the technical bench, with the coach making it clear that he would not tolerate players or staff who do not follow his instructions. He further emphasized that, contrary to some opinions within the club, Kenyan players were more than capable of playing at the same level as foreign players and that he would no longer be pressured into fielding players who did not meet his standards.
The falling out has caused significant disruption, especially at a critical time in the season when Gor Mahia are embroiled in a fierce title battle with rivals Kenya Police and Tusker. With just a handful of games remaining, Gor Mahia’s aspirations for the championship could hang in the balance if the internal strife isn’t resolved quickly.
Mihic’s team now faces a crucial fixture against KCB, where a victory would be vital in their quest for the title. However, it remains to be seen how the team will respond to the current turmoil within the ranks. The situation has left many wondering whether Gor Mahia’s managerial crisis will derail their hopes for another league crown.
While the coach and his staff remain tight-lipped about the specifics, the fallout has certainly created tension at the club, and how the players handle the situation in the coming matches could determine the outcome of the season.
