KPL now
called Tusker Premier League for some other reasons is soon rising to be the
most competitive league in Africa. With a wide fan base and capital that has attracted
the experienced western (Odiero) coaches.
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| Len Julians |
GorMahia got into the history books of white coaches in the 1980s to 1991 by
employing former Arsenal mid fielder Len Julians who coached the Kogallo into
three successive league wins. The Tottenham born Gor Mahia legend is remembered
for grooming the Kenyas historic duos Charles Otieno whom Julians nicknamed
“the engine” and Abbas Magongo. To add
to the list were; John Okello “Zangi” , Abdallah Shebe, Hesborn Omollo, Sammy
Onyango, ‘Fundi’ and many others all came of age and became legends under coach
Julians.
The then
newly rejuvenated Gor Mahia on form and class, midway through the season, beat
English premier league side, Norwich city 4-2 in a friendly match. Perhaps the
biggest achievement ever witnessed in the Africa football guiness…oops…fifa books of records. To many staunch Gor
Mahia fans Lens Julians remain the legendary golden goddess standing on Moi
Avenue. Julians was once quoted,‘I feel
so good that the young boys have done so well in the short period I have been
with them. They finished the league having scored 80 goals in 38 games.’
Those days
Gor Mahia fans would parade a convoy of dance to Nation Media group in town
where the legend photographer Mohammed Amin would take some photos for the
dailies the next day. A repeat of what is happening at Moi Avenue that has
drawn the media attention in disarray. Well it is not known where his coaching
career took him to after the 1991 season. Sadly Julians passed away on December
17 1993 in Southend England. The entire Gor Mahia fraternity mourned his
passing. Am sure professional mourners here at home witnessed what was
christened as a great national mourning period.
History repeats
itself as it is later to be witnessed in the reign of Zedekiah Otieno Zico who
troubled over every detail to quench the goal thirsty Kogallo fans; a coaching
that turned bitter for Gor Mahia fans and sweet for their counterparts ‘Shemeji’
the fierce ‘Ingwe.’ A troubled Gor Mahia resorted to rekindle the Kenya Premier
League memories of Len Julians by hiring the ebullient Croat Zdravko Logarusic
who at his arrivals did exactly the football language the Gor Mahia fans
understand bets i.e winning ways. After
fortnights of waiting for victory the thirsty goal Gor Mahia returned to
winning ways and soon dropped the hooliganism and adopted newer style of
celebrating goals along Moi Avenue. Logarusic now christened ‘Luogarusic ‘matched
the green army in a tactful massacre stampede for goal. The tactful ‘swaggerific
‘coach is now baying and breathing fire behind the historical archrivals AFC Leopard
in a mouth watering event to debut at the newly furnished Kasarani Gymnasium
dubbed ‘come Shemeji…come baby come…’
Troubled
FC Leopards opted to engage their technical unit services to the western world
by going foreign with Jaan Koops. Disturbed title optimists AFC Leopards
perching at the top of the league have drawn the leagues attention to Gor Mahia
who on good cause in green pursuit breathe on their neck for title chase by
loosing despite Koops onslaught tongue lashing press briefings.
23rd
August marks the history for titans as the rivalry team of ‘Shemeji’ find out
who is the best odiero coach in a match dubbed the Battlefield of Kismayo. To
Gor Mahia, otherwise known as Kogallo, Len Julian is back in a repeat of the
1991 titans clash.
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