NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 9 – Gor Mahia head coach Steven Pollack has been belatedly named the November Fidelity Insurance Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Coach of the Month, adding on a consecutive crown after also being named the best in October.
Polack led the reigning champions to three victories out of five games they played in November, a feat that saw him edge out Sofapaka’s John Baraza and Ulinzi’s Benjamin Nyangweso to clinch the award.
“I’m delighted to get this accolade but I dedicate it to my backroom staff and the players who worked very hard on the pitch to make it work. It means we can achieve much more with better conditions. You all know our situation by we try to make the best out of it,” said the jubilant Englishman.
Gor suffered their first loss of the season when they went down to Mathare at the start of the month, but bounced back to pick a massive 4-1 victory over arch rivals AFC Leopards in the Mashemeji Derby.
They then went on to beat Kakamega Homeboyz 3-0 before finishing the month with a well worked 2-0 win on the road against Bandari in Mombasa and a 0-0 draw with Ulinzi Stars in Kisumu.
The trophy that comes with a Sh75,000 purse from sponsors Fidelity Insurance will sure be a huge morale booster for the tactician who has previously admitted to tough financial times due to the current state of the club.
Since the exit of sponsors SportPesa, K’Ogalo has struggled to sustain its wage bill with players reportedly going months without pay while some, including Ivorian Gnamin Yikpe and Ghanaian Francis Afriyie ditching the club for pastures greener.
