Mark Harrison patiently works on ‘total football’ project at Gor

Derby is an English city on the banks of the River Derwent in Derbyshire. The city is a centre for advanced transport manufacturing and may have engineered the vast travels of Mark Harrison.

Indeed the playing and managerial career of the Gor Mahia coach has been full of travel.
Born and bred in Derby, Harrison played for seven clubs before managing Bangladesh and 10 top-flight clubs in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

However, it was family heritage and tradition that paved the way for his football journey.

"My grandfather, father, and brother also played football. So, I only wanted to be a footballer and, even at school, that is what I said I wanted to do," the 61-year old Englishman opened up about inside an office at Camp Toyoyo, in Jericho, Nairobi.

He had his first steps at Nottingham Forest, where he felt the intimidating aura of legendary English manager, the late Brian Clough, from far. However, he did not stay long enough to be part of the Forest squad that won back-to-back European Cups in the late 1970s.

"Clough came to Nottingham in 1975, a year after I joined. Since I was in the youth team, I had no direct contact with him. What he achieved with that modest Nottingham team is top class," the former goalkeeper, who likes following Nottingham Forest in his free time as well as relaxing at home and going to the gym, said of his early days as a footballer.

Departure from Nottingham in 1977 united him with a Southampton manager, the late John McGrath, who greatly influenced his playing and managerial career.

"McGrath left a massive impression on me. He was very witty, professional, and demanding on and off the field. When he left for Port Vale in 1979, he took me with him. We spent five great years together before I joined Stoke City in 1982."

Leaving the fourth division club saw Harrison mingle with and impress against experienced British Isles internationals in the top division.

"My debut for Stoke City was against Manchester United at Old Trafford and, even though United won 1-0 with a Bryan Robson goal, I was the man of the match. In my third match, we held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at home," he recalled his most memorable playing moments.

The move to Stoke City and the promising start was evidence that the fruitful relationship with McGrath had put his career on the right trajectory.

However, a knee problem limited him to only seven league appearances in two years, and when he left the club in 1984 for Hellenic of South Africa, it signalled the end of his days as a top-flight footballer.

He had two spells with Hellenic that sandwiched appearances for Kettering Town, Stafford Rangers and Telford United.

After his second spell with Hellenic he retired and ventured into coaching in 1989.

"I went through several development periods before I settled on the right philosophy -- total football. I prepare my team to blow the opposition away with an attractive high-tempo brand of entertaining football. I like to see my team dominate possession by moving the ball from the goalkeeper through the three zones then into the opponent's net," Harrison explained his football philosophy with accompanying gestures.

The Gor coach relies on his man-management style to instill boldness and joie de vivre in his players so that they can play his way.

"I used to put fear into everybody but, now, I have since mellowed. I want my players to enjoy football. They have the best job in the world that pays them to keep fit and entertain crowds," he said.

Even with these firm principles, some overzealous club owners feel they know better than him and, they interfere with his work resulting in unplanned short stays.

"Some owners think they know more about football. They should manage logistics and finances while leaving coaching and management of players to the technical bench. I cannot work in an environment that undermines my independence."

Fortunately, he has not experienced such issues at Gor Mahia.

"Success never comes overnight. I join clubs hoping to work on at least a two-year project and, I am glad the chairman and other officials of Gor Mahia have been top class. We have developed a great relationship that can bring success to the club," he said.

"I have also established a smooth work-flow with the technical bench. We have a great understanding within a structure that promotes everyone's involvement," Harrison stated.

"Despite a generational gap, my players and I have found a balance between work and fun. They know where the line is," he added.

This conducive working environment gives him confidence that the two consecutive transfer bans that Fifa has imposed on the club will not affect it.

"We have young players that we can groom to keep the club competing at the highest level. Even though we would wish to strengthen the squad, it won't be the end of the world if we could not. If anything, we have managed well with only 16 players available for our CAF matches after we missed the registration deadline for new players," he said.

Gor Mahia faces Otoho d'Oyo of Republic of Congo in the  CAF Confederation Cup play-offs  first leg match on Sunday in Brazzaville  and Harrison is optimistic they will advance to the next stage.

"We have studied videos of Otoho and, we are positive our lean squad can handle them. Fortunately, CAF will allow us to register the new players if we progress," he said.

Speaking of  videos Harrison sharing his views on the impact of technology on football, proposed rule changes, and challenges facing African football.

"Goal-line technology and VAR (Video Assistant Referee) are necessary because a lot of money is involved in football nowadays.

"However, they should maintain the current size of the pitch, duration of a match, and leave the number of players at 11. Footballers are fitter than ever before.

"I would also like to see referees explain their decisions to the press as coaches do after matches.

"It would be great if African countries and teams move with the rest but that can only happen if they get more money to invest in the sport. From the grassroots to the top flight, it needs sufficient finances to run things smoothly. There is simply no other way."

Even though he has never managed a national team in Africa, Harrison remains coy on that possibility.

"I am happy at Gor Mahia and, Nairobi is a great place. I enjoy your chapatis and samosas. I want to stay here for as long as I can. However, football is a strange game and, things can change overnight. You can never say never," Harrison.

His only national team assignment so far was with Bangladesh in 2001 and, it was a job he regretted taking.

"I feel I went there at the wrong time in my career. I should have stayed in England longer before venturing out," he said.

"My other regret, even though it was out of my control, is my knee problem. I had so many operations and, that hindered my career progression."

He hopes not to add failure to speak an African language to his list of regrets.

"I moved around so much that there was not enough time to learn Xhosa or Zulu. I am slowly grasping Kiswahili," he said with a smile.

Harrison is married to an accountant and they  have two children.

"My wife is here with me and, when I am free, we like to go out. Our  two children live in England. Ryan became a pilot after retiring from football, and Charlotte is a veterinary officer."

Ryan,  retired after a spell with Harare City in 2019. The 35-year-old former goalkeeper worked at the Zimbabwean club with his father as the technical director.

Zimbabwe was also Harrison's last station before he joined Gor Mahia with hopes of leaving a legacy.

"I like the support I have received at Gor Mahia. The last 18 months have been challenging due to Covid but, we have managed it well. I hope to bring domestic and continental success to the club," he said.

Time will tell.