Charles Akonnor wins Kenya’s Coach of the Season award

Ghanaian coach Charles Akonnor has earned Kenya’s Coach of the Season award after steering Gor Mahia to a historic 22nd Kenyan Premier League title.

The championship was sealed with two matches to play, confirmed on Sunday, May 24, 2026, when AFC Leopards lost 2-1 to APS Bomet, leaving them four points adrift with just one game remaining.

Akonnor, who joined Gor Mahia in August 2025, has completely transformed the club’s fortunes in less than a year. His technical team features assistant coach Bismark Kobi Mensah, goalkeepers’ trainer Ben Owu, and video analyst Joshua Kofi Boafo.

The former Black Stars coach previously led Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak in Ghana before taking this Kenya opportunity. Ghanaian players proved instrumental to the success, with Enock Morrison, George Amonoo, Ebenezer Adukwaw, and Ebenezer Assifuah all delivering influential performances throughout the campaign.

Gor Mahia finished atop the standings with 68 points. Akonnor’s title-winning achievement naturally earned him the season’s top coaching honor, cementing his reputation as one of Africa’s most accomplished coaches. He will now lead Gor Mahia into next season’s CAF Champions League competition.