Gor Mahia’s recent heavy defeat to Al Ahly brought to light several key issues that the club and Kenyan football, in general, need to address moving forward. While the result was disappointing, there are important lessons to take away from this match.

1. Gap in Player Quality

The disparity in the quality of players between Gor Mahia and Al Ahly was evident throughout the match. Al Ahly, a continental giant, completely outclassed Gor Mahia in terms of skill, experience, and depth. This just emphasise the need for Kenyan clubs to invest in local talent development and improve their squad strength if they hope to compete with Africa’s best.

2. Unmatched Fan Support

Despite the loss, Gor Mahia remains the most popular football club in Kenya. The attendance at the stadium was massive, reaffirming the strong support base the club enjoys. However, this massive turnout also exposed inefficiencies in the ticketing system.

3. Urgent Need for E-Ticketing

The chaotic entry process at the stadium proved the need for electronic ticketing. A group of friends and I were able to enter the stadium without anyone checking our tickets, resulting in a disorganised situation at the gates. E-ticketing could solve this by streamlining the entry process, improving crowd management, and boosting revenue collection for the club.

4. Enoch Morrison is a gem

One bright spot from the match was Gor Mahia’s new signing, Enoch Morrison. His performance showed glimpses of real talent, and he could prove to be an invaluable asset to the team going forward. Morrison’s abilities provide hope for the club’s future if they can build around him.

5. Tactical Blunder in the Starting Lineup

The coach’s decision to field six defenders in the starting lineup was a tactical error. For a club of Gor Mahia’s stature, such defensive tactics are surprising, especially coming from a Brazilian coach. The second half saw significant improvement after squad changes were made, suggesting that the match might have had a different outcome with a more balanced starting lineup.