"Pleased, but more to be done": McKinstry reacts to Gor Mahia's FKF Shield win

Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry was left pleased with how his team played in their first competitive action in preseason, but believed there was more that needed to be done in the coming weeks before the new 2023-24 campaign commences.

The 20 time FKF Premier League champions were on Saturday 12 August crowned the winners of the FKF Shield after a penalty shoot-out victory (4-2) over Kakamega Homeboyz, coming after Boniface Omondi and Eric Ambunya had scored on either ends to see the game end 1-1 in normal time.

“Really pleased with how we played today,” McKinstry told Mozzart Sport post-game. “Looking at how we got here, I can only credit the boys for the quick turn-around they’ve had. We had a very short offseason and just resumed training three weeks ago

“That shows you what kind of a tight schedule my players have been on. But they came out here and displayed a good game, very happy to claim another title.”

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Termed as the league’s ‘curtain-raiser', it would have been easier to pour water on the team's achievement, but McKinstry was having none of that, saying: “First game, first trophy for some of the young lads in the team. Look, let no one say to them that it's just a Charity Shield and that it doesn’t matter. You’d ask some of them about the medals today and they will have a different story. Some players go five hundred games without a winners medal. It is a special moment for us that can’t be taken away.”

Even with that, some glimpses of an uncooked team showed on the day.

Whether it was Rooney Onyango surrendering a back pass straight to Moses Shummah, or goalkeeper Caleb Otieno having a few scary moments leading up to the equalizer, McKinstry was adamant that the team was far away from being a finished article.

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“It was evident that we lacked a bit of sharpness and fitness,” he said. “You get that gradually. And it will come with a combination of such friendly matches and championship games when the season begins. We ideally planned to be at five weeks of training at the moment but we have two weeks to get ready.”

Gor Mahia intend to engage in a couple of friendly games starting next weekend, as all eyes slowly turn to the 26 August game against Sofapaka FC to kickstart the season.

For now, let them revel in the new piece of hardware!