The Breakdown: Analyzing Vaz Pinto’s spell at Gor Mahia

Back in 10th January 2021, Kenya’s most decorated club – Gor Mahia, through a post on Twitter, confirmed the appointment of 46 year old Portuguese tactitian Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto as their new head coach on a two year deal.

Pinto had been brought as a replacement for Roberto Oliveira whose qualifications had been questioned first by CAF and then by Football Kenya Federation, both bodies citing the Brazilian head coach as not up to the task after problems with his coaching papers, leaving Gor to settle on Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo for a while before the Portuguese’s arrival.

On the day of his announcement - Sunday morning, Gor were scheduled to play Kariobangi Sharks in the afternoon and the record Kenyan champions ended up losing 4-3 in a thrilling contest played at the Kasarani Annex. Although present in the game, Pinto only watched his new team’s performance from the stands.

And on Saturday morning, July 10th 2021, Mozzart Sport broke the news of Pinto ditching the club after exactly six months into his two year contract as he decided to return to his native Portugal after a difficult time with K’Ogalo.

This episode of The Breakdown brings into attention the numbers of that six month spell that saw Gor crush out of the CAF Confederations Cup, stutter in the first half of the league, resuscitate their season and eventually grab a ticket that took them back to the Confederations Cup after a win over their fiercest rivals. Let’s dive in!

Total Matches Played= 29

During his stay with the Green Army, Pinto oversaw a total number of twenty nine games at the club. 21 in the league, six in the cup tournament and two in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Numbers

Total Matches Played (All Competitions)= 29

Total Wins= 18

Total Defeats = 7

Total Draws = 4

Overall Winning Percentage= 62.07%

Pinto's winning percentage at Gor Mahia in all competitions

League

League Matches 21

League Wins = 12

League Defeats = 6

League Draws = 3

League Winning Percentage = 57.14%

Results

Gor 3-1 Mathare United

Picked his first win over Mathare United in his first match on the Gor touchlines, Charles Momanyi, Kenneth Muguna and Samuel Onyango causing damage in the 3-1 victory.

Western Stima 1-3 Gor

Gor 0-1 Vihiga United

A late Dennis Wafula goal with only four minutes left on the clock was enough for Vihiga to stun Gor and hand Pinto his first defeat at the club thirteen days after taking over.

Gor 3-0 Zoo FC

Bandari 1-3 Gor

Gor 0-0 AFC Leopards

Got a draw in his first Mashemeji test following the barren draw played at Kasarani Stadium.

Nzoia Sugar 2-1 Gor

Kakamega Homeboyz 1-2 Gor

Gor 0-2 KCB

Gor 0-1 Posta Rangers

Bidco United 1-3 Gor

This game marked the start of a seven game winning streak for Gor Mahia.

Gor 1-0 Nairobi City Stars

Sofapaka 1-2 Gor

Vihiga United 0-1 Gor

Wazito 0-1 Gor

Mathare United 0-1 Gor

Gor 0-1 Sofapaka

Gor 0-0 Wazito

Gor 1-2 Western Stima

Stima silenced Gor in Thika to bring to an end a seven match winning streak and an eight match unbeaten run.

Gor 0-0 Bandari

Tusker 2-1 Gor

Pinto’s last game in charge at Gor ended in defeat. Tusker defender Eugene Asike scoring in the 90th minute to complete his side’s comeback in the game

By the time Pinto was taking over after the 4-3 loss to Sharks, Gor sat in 16th on the log on three points after three games played where they won one and lost the other two.

Twelve wins, three draws and six defeats later, a run that included an imperious seven game winning streak, Gor currently sit in fourth position in the league on 39 points.

Cup Tournament 6

Cup Wins = 6/6

Cup Defeats = 0/6

Cup Winning Percentage = 100%

Results

Congo Boys 0-3 – Round of 64

Gor 5-0 Cussco – Round of 32

Gor 2-1 Mara Sugar – Round of 16

Gor 2-0 Kariobangi Sharks – Quarter Finals

Gor 1(4)-(1)1 Bidco United – Semi Finals

Gor 0 (4)-(1)0 AFC Leopards – Finals 

Honours

Pinto managed to end Gor Mahia’s eight year wait for a cup trophy as he led his side to victory in the 2021 Football Kenya Federation Cup, beating bitter rivals AFC Leopards 4-1 on post-match penalties following a barren draw in regulation time to lift what would be his only achievement with the club.

Mashemeji Derby

For any Gor Mahia coach, the Mashemeji Derby is one of the tests used to gauge your ‘ability’. Fortunately for Pinto, he masterminded a win when needed the most to send Gor back to continental football when it looked unlikely.

CAF Continental Matches - 2

Continental Draws = 1/2

Continental Defeats = 1/2

Results

Gor 0-1 Napsa Stars (Zambia)

Napsa Stars 2-2 Gor