NAIROBI, Kenya, August 26- Frank Ouna takes temporally charge of Gor Mahia as the Kenyan Premier League champions start the search of the man to fill the giant boots of departed head coach, Bobby Williamson.
Club’s Secretary General Chris Omondi confirmed to Capital Sport, the designated Team Manager Ouna will be in the dugout when K’Ogalo take on limping KCB on Thursday at Nairobi’s Nyayo National stadium.
“We are meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) with the executive committee to discuss the way forward, but for now Ouna is in charge and he will be on the touchline when we play KCB,” Omondi declared.
It will not be the first time Ouna has taken the reins this season after taking charge of the KPL Top 8 clash between Gor and Tusker in Kinoru when Williamson travelled to Scotland and his assistant, Bobby Ogolla, was hospitalised.
With 11 KPL to go, K’Ogalo could once again look outside these shores to hire the next boss having abandoned the preference of local tacticians when they hired Zradvko Logarusic in 2011.
On Sunday after winning his last match against fierce rivals Sony Sugar, the Scotsman declared he will second his successor to chairman Ambrose Rachier.
“I will recommend people to the chairman and it’s up for him to select them, but we will make sure that the coach who comes is qualified, professional and capable of taking the squad forward.
“Everybody knows what Ogola is capable of and the Team Manager Ouna as well but it will be up for the chairman to decide if he will give either of them opportunity or will bring another person.
“We will make sure we provide him with the best person possible and hope he makes the right decision,” Williamson who reported to his new Harambee Stars job on Monday stated.
Ouna, a former Sofapaka Team Manager tasted defeat in his first dugout cameo as they fell to Tusker on aggregate in June.
Williamson, who replaced Croat Logarusic mid last season, led K’Ogalo to their first trophy for the first time in 18 years.
His exit was met with trepidation as Capital Sport samples some of the posts on the subject in the club’s official Face Book wall.
Joel Odero: Chris Omondi nyiswauru now that Williamson has gone before our next game is on Thursday team nitiere e luet ng’aa, wadwa ng’eyo chon…blame game okwadua bang’e. (Chris Omondi, tell us now that Williamson has left who will be in charge of the team? We don’t want blame game later).
Eugine Messo: If we are to go for a local tactician, then Frank Furo Ouna is the man to take the job, Continuity is VERY IMPORTANT at this stage. Ama Mnaonaje washika dau wa Gor Mahia?
Larky Luke Oj: Ouna ashikilie hadi end of season…..Pamzo (Sammy Omollo) chini yake.
Gor Ivans: Ouna Ashikilie hapo kwa short INSTINCT.
Willis Odembe: Frank Ouna oknyal (he can’t be)….Pamzo or Okumbi,
Michael Odock: To have continuity we need stability, am afraid Ouna can’t offer us that Stability as a coach, he might end up being puppet of fans, office and some players.
When Gor parted ways with Logarusic, we immediately hired Bobby who gave us that stability as a coach as a result we had continuity and eventually winning the League.
My take lets get somebody who commands respect from the fans, players and management, someone who has ideas and a character like Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee.
Edu okelloh: We want someone who can win us matches. I saw Frank in Kinoru last time he was standing in for Bobby n I remember how fans tried to influence his substitutions. I have my reservations…..
Well, fans can only express their opinion but the big task now lies on club officials who are yet to decide if they will hire a permanent coach or for the remaining matches of the season.