Exclusive: New Gor Mahia coach revealed

Gor Mahia are expected on Saturday to name Brazilian Roberto Oliveira Goncalves do Carmo as the new coach after parting ways with British tactician Steven Polack on mutual consent.

The 60-year-old former Brazilian striker, popularly known as Robertinho, has been coaching in Africa for the last 15 years with stints in Tunisia, Angola and most recently Rayon Sports of Rwanda.

Club Secretary General Sam Ochola confirmed that the club will unveil a new coach but didn’t divulge the name of the tactician who he said will be unveiled at the club offices by midday.

However, sources withing the club revealed to Nation Sport that Oliveira will be the new K’Ogalo tactician.

"We settled on Oliviera after earlier attempts to bring back former Gor coach José Marcelo Ferreira hit a dead end. Oliveira is already in the country," the source said.

Polack was in charge of the team in the virus-halted season after taking over from Turkish-Cypriot Hassan Oktay.

The Briton coach and the club parted way on mutual consent after being at the helm of the club for one year.

Polack left the country on September 12 for holiday with his family back in Finland and promised to be back to continue with its duties.

He had earlier urged the club to pay the players all their salary arrears in anticipation for the new season. Gor have signed 14 new players ahead of the new season.

“We are in receipt of your resignation letter dated October 8, 2020 as Gor Mahia coach. Much as this is happening, we also respect the reasons that you have pointed out to occasion your action,” the club staid in a statement.

“As a club we will miss you among us greatly, especially your impeccable coaching abilities social cohesion and excitement you brought to the Gor Mahia fraternity.”

The 58-year-old thanked the club, players and technical bench.

“The club and I have come to mutual agreement to terminate my contract due to economic downturn and coronavirus pandemic which is not only affecting Gor Mahia. I would like to say thank you to the club for giving me opportunity to coach Gor Mahia,” said Polack.

Polack joined Gor Mahia in September 2019 as a replacement for Oktay who left to sort out family issues only to resign from his home land.

He won the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) Coach of the Month Award for September, October and February.

The trend of coaches leaving Gor Mahia while on holiday is not new. Former coaches Dylan Kerr, Oktay, José Marcelo Ferreira - fondly known as Ze Maria - all left for their holidays and never came back.