Coach Ze Maria: Gor Mahia will bounce back

Gor Mahia’s new coach Jose Marcelo Ferreira famously known as Ze Maria, has promised to steer K’Ogalo’s season back on track and has set his sights on ensuring the champions defend the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) title.

Speaking during his unveiling in Nairobi on Tuesday, Ferreira says he not only aims at leading K’Ogalo to a fourth successive crown to extend their domestic record to 16 but is also keen in overseeing his new club succeeds at the continental level.

Gor are winless in the league this season after drawing four and losing one in their opening five fixtures of the season.

However, despite their shocking start to the new campaign, the new boss believes the current crop of players have what it takes to get back to winning ways.

“Gor Mahia are a good team and my first task will be changing the players’ mentality. I believe they are in this situation because maybe they have lost trust in themselves. I trust in my job and I always trust my players. For me, this is very important,” said the former Brazilian international who won the Copa America and FIFA Confederations Cup with the Selecao asserted.

Club chairman Ambrose Rachier expressed his delight at having signed the former FC Parma midfielder saying he has full faith in him.

“Of all the candidates that expressed their interest in signing with us, we found Ferreira to be the most qualified to take over as our new coach. He has an impressive track record, he is fit and speaks good English,” said Rachier while revealing that Ferreira’s contract expires in March 2017 but will subject for renewal.

The chairman who earlier in the day trashed reports the club would hold its elections in April added they were yet to make a decision as to who will take over from Frank Ouna as the club’s new assistant coach following his resignation.

He also maintained Scotsman Frank Nutall, who quit last week after leading the club to back-to-back SPL titles did not formally inform them his decision to jump ship and join Cairo giants, Zamalek as an assistant to compatriot and former colleague at fallen Scottish giants, Alex McLeish.

“He did not send us a resignation letter. I got secondary information from the media,” he held despite the club’s official website also reporting he had communicated his decision in writing when announcing the vacant head coach role.

Earlier in a statement reproduced in full below and attributed to the chair, Rachier dismissed reports the club would go for elections in April.

The attention of Gor Mahia Football Club management has been drawn to a “notice” on the club’s official letter headed paper dated Sunday, March 13, 2016. The said “notice” signed by one Josiah Oliech alias ‘Kwaru’ claims to be calling for an Annual General Meeting (AGM) with elections as an item on the Agenda.

I would like to categorically dismiss this purported notice with the contempt that it deserves and state the following:

a)      That pursuant to Gor Mahia club Constitution, Societies Act and the Sports Act 2013, the said Josiah Oliech aka ‘Kwaru’ has no authority whatsoever to give such notice or even speak on behalf of Gor Mahia FC. Oliech has clearly stolen the club’s official letter head and used it spuriously to mislead Kenyans.

b)     That the authority to convene an AGM and to call for club elections vests in the Gor Mahia Executive Committee (EC) of which the above named imposter is not a member.

c)      That in due time the EC will convene an AGM in line with the constitution and the Societies Act at which meeting the EC will update the members of the club on relevant state of affairs regarding compliance with the Sports Act 2013.

Finally, I want to reassure the members of the club that the EC remains committed and determined to steer the club towards transparent and accountable management and greater success.

The SPL has taken a two week break to allow the national soccer team prepare for their AFCON qualifying games against Guinea Bissau and Ze Maria will be hoping to use that period to familiarize himself with the team before the team travels away to Kakamega Homeboyz on April 2.

“I am very happy, the players are happy and the fans are happy- that is my philosophy,” said Ze Maria who explains he got his nickname due to his similar style of play and resemblance with the ‘real’ Ze Maria who represented Brazil in the 1998 World Cup in France.

Report by Mercy Rop