Ghanaian coach Charles Akonnor admits Gor Mahia have work to do despite perfect start after Homeboyz test

Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor has admitted his side still have significant work to do despite maintaining their perfect start to the SportPesa League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kakamega Homeboyz on Wednesday.

The defending champions secured their fourth consecutive win at Bukhungu Stadium, with David Okoth’s stunning second-half strike separating the sides and extending their winning run to four matches.

However, Akonnor acknowledged the challenge posed by Homeboyz, insisting his players had to remain patient before finding a breakthrough against a determined home side.

“We knew this would be a difficult match because Homeboyz are a good side, especially when playing at home,” Akonnor said.

The Ghanaian tactician was pleased with the three points but recognised that his team needed to improve their approach against opponents who defend deep and limit space in the attacking third.

“These are the kind of matches that test you. We are happy with the three points, but there is still a lot of work to do,” he said.

Akonnor’s changes unlock stubborn Homeboyz defence

Gor Mahia struggled to break down the hosts during the first half, with Homeboyz successfully frustrating the visitors and restricting their clear scoring opportunities.

Akonnor admitted his team needed to move the ball faster and exploit the spaces on the flanks to create openings.

“We needed to move the ball quicker and use the spaces on the wings. The players worked hard, but we had to make a few changes to get the result,” he said.

The coach made a decisive triple substitution in the 59th minute, introducing Jackson Dwang, Ebenezer Assifuah and Ben Stanley for Machaka, Shariff and Paul Okoth.

The changes injected fresh energy into Gor Mahia’s attack and eventually produced the decisive moment 10 minutes later.

David Okoth, a former Kakamega Homeboyz winger, collected the ball on the left before unleashing a powerful effort past goalkeeper Farouk Wanzala in the 69th minute.

His strike proved enough to secure all three points and maintain Gor Mahia’s perfect record in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Akonnor praised the substitutes for their contribution, highlighting the importance of players making an immediate impact when introduced.

“When you make changes, you expect the players coming in to make a difference. They did their job, and David scored a very good goal,” he said.

Injury setback and late scare

Gor Mahia suffered an early setback when defender Portipher Odhiambo was forced off with an injury in the 12th minute.

Lesley Otieno replaced him, prompting Ebenezer Ocran to move into defence as the visitors adjusted their setup.

Despite their difficulties in the opening period, Gor Mahia came close to breaking the deadlock in the 43rd minute when Alpha Onyango’s header was saved. The rebound fell to Machaka, who failed to keep his effort on target.

The visitors threatened again shortly after the restart when Machaka’s long cross struck the inside of the post in the 48th minute, denying them an opportunity to take the lead.

Homeboyz continued to search for an equaliser after Okoth’s goal and nearly punished Gor Mahia late in the contest.

However, goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi produced an important save in the 89th minute to preserve his clean sheet and ensure the champions left Bukhungu Stadium with maximum points.

Gor Mahia maintain perfect league record

The victory takes Gor Mahia to 12 points from four matches, keeping them on course as they pursue another league title.

Akonnor will be encouraged by his team’s ability to grind out a result away from home, particularly against opponents who made scoring difficult.

However, his post-match assessment suggests the defending champions remain conscious of the improvements required as the season progresses.

With their winning start intact, Gor Mahia will look to build on their momentum while addressing the shortcomings exposed by a resilient Homeboyz side.