Even before record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia had laced up for the start of the delayed 26/27 SportPesa League season, a lot of doubt was being cast on them.

In their preparations for the new campaign, the 22-time Kenyan champions had produced a phenomenal run in getting to the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup final for the first time since 2015 but succumbed to a 2-1 extra time defeat against local side Rayon Sport at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda back in August.

Instead of building on what was an impressive performance in the regional showpiece, the Charles Akonnor-coached side glitched and failed to win any of the seven other games they played during the preseason period.

K’Ogalo lost twice to Egyptian giants Pyramids in the CAF Champions League First Preliminary Round, twice to Tusker, once to Mathare United and drew against Kenya Police and Migori Youth (2D 5L), a recipe for disaster at a club whose fans don’t understand any language apart from victory even in non-competitive matches.

How had the team fallen off so badly from beating regional opposition like Al Hilal and APR to a lack of wins in seven matches?

Were the players not good enough all of a sudden? Had the pressure gotten to them? What was going on?

WOBBLING GOR MAHIA LOSE AGAIN TO TUSKER!

Tusker came from behind to beat Gor Mahia 3-2 in a pre-season friendly at Nyayo Stadium, their second win over K’Ogalo in less than a month.
Troubled start! 🟡🟢
#GRSport https://t.co/kezcqqumzE— Ghetto Radio (@GhettoRadio895) September 20, 2026

While opposition fans traded banter at the club, head coach Akonnor sensed something that needed immediate remedy to get the team’s groove back as they headed for the new season, especially as defending champions.

“After the CECAFA Kagame Cup, when we came back, all of a sudden the atmosphere was not good. It was a bit toxic,” Akonnor opened up in an exclusive interview with SportPesa Blog.

Instinctively, the former Ghana national team head coach realized his players needed an awakening.

Something that would give them a new perspective of what it meant to play for and defend the badge of a club of Gor Mahia’s stature, leading the technical bench to seek professional help from outside to help with the mentality at the club.

“The technical bench thought it wise to bring a psychologist which I asked permission from the management and they supported it,” the former Ghana national team captain revealed.

“Sometimes these boys need to hear a different voice. They may be a little bored with one voice telling them certain things which they do not seem to believe.

I had a long chat with the psychologist, told her a lot of things going on and when she was coming, she knew exactly what to do and that has really helped.

Mental health is very important. Do not forget these boys come from different backgrounds altogether and sometimes a lot of things happen at home and they grow up with it, they have a certain character, certain way of behaving and if you are not smart enough sometimes you will not get them,” Akonnor noted.

“Gor is a big team as far as Kenyan soccer is concerned so there is always issues. The minds of these players sometimes is hard to control but it necessary when you feel the moment has come where you need to bring somebody else.

I am sure this may be the first of its kind with this Gor Mahia team and when I asked management they supported it.

If you talk to the players you will find that it worked because they were able to get back to the right mentality, right focus on the game and to believe in who they are.

We saw the impact and it is one of the factors why we have started really well,” he said with his side the only team to register a perfect start to the 26/27 SportPesa League campaign after three games, beating Murang’a Seal, APS Bomet and Bandari.

🟢 | STANDINGS

We stay at the top after today’s win against Bandari. Three wins in three matches.

FULL TIME | Gor Mahia 1 – 0 Bandari

(⚽️ – Alpha Onyango)

#𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐥 | #𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐍𝐚𝐆𝐨𝐫 https://t.co/dENlDjqJzZ— GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) October 24, 2026

Shariff Musa, who is arguably the league’s hottest property, expressed massive support for the initiative lauding the impact it had already created in a short span as it helped the team to understand each other even more.

“As footballers we need someone to talk to us because we are also humans. It was a good session that helped us learn new things about each other that we did not know. It also brought harmony to the team and brought positive energy which really helped.

As men we do not like saying a lot of things but when we came together and everyone was sharing, it became easier because now we got to understand how people like to work, how they want their things to run which has made it easier and it shows on the pitch because we are working together,” he remarked.

Musa, who has won the league title with Gor Mahia on two occasions, delved deeper on the impact of the psychologist’s session, noting how his perspective has evolved from simply playing for himself but also looking for others just because of the potential impact.

“It made us understand that when we get here from our various homes, this is one of the only things that make us really happy – playing football.

So with that realization, you ensure that when you get to the pitch you bring the energy to make sure you win games, to fight for each other because at the end of the day a lot of people depend on that to be happy because people are going through a lot of things.

Once we get on the pitch, playing together, fighting against each other in training, cracking jokes, laughing, going to games and winning, it makes you realize that we may be going through a lot but when we come together, these are the moments that make it easier.

It made me realize that as much as it is my work, it also makes us happy and that is why we must fight for each other,” he revealed.

Right back Paul Ochuoga lauded the sessions with the psychologist reflecting how it helped him unlock new ways of dealing with pressure as it also made him understand his mates even better.

“I got to learn more things about myself and teammates because it was an open session. It helped me to learn new ways of handling pressure. The sessions also helped us as a team to restore our confidence levels,” he said.

On his part, Gor Mahia’s team doctor Brian Odongo explained the reasoning behind seeking outside help as he highlighted the key areas the psychologist dealt with.

“It was all about encouragement. You may be doing everything right but something may not get you the result. We asked ourselves what are we not getting right and we felt bringing someone from outside who has in depth knowledge in matters mental health would help and so far so good we have seen the results come.

Gor is a big team which comes with a lot of demands and pressure. You may not sustain them all the time so we just need to bring the team together then learn how to manage or cope with external pressure off the field.

We got her to help us tackle mental health, psyching up the players, telling the players how to cope when there is too much pressure or when things are not working and to bring the team together and we see it is working.

Medicine is scientific and every part must have an evidence. It is working for us because we have played three matches and won all of them,” he remarked.

Gor Mahia face Kakamega Homeboyz in their fourth fixture of the season on Wedenesday 28 October 2026 at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.