Gor Mahia Appoint Mark Harrison

Gor Mahia have appointed Englishman Mark Harrison as their new head coach, club president Ambroise Rachier announced in the early hours of Saturday.

The Kenyan Premier League giants have been searching for a new manager since Portuguese gaffer Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto resigned from his position.

Vaz Pinto was appointed as K’Ogalo coach in January, succeeding Brazilian tactician Roberto Oliveira, who the club opted to cut ties with after his papers were questioned by Confederation of African Football.

Following Vaz Pinto departure, Gor Mahia executive committees interviewed a number of candidates for the vacant job, including Burundian Cedric Kaze and former coach Frank Nutall.

However, they have decided to go with England-born Mark Harrion, who will arrive in Nairobi on Sunday to sign for his new club.

“We had many applicants but we decided to pick Mark Harrison as the man as he understands the African football environment having worked with a number of teams previously. Language was another factor we considered as well as experience of the coach,’’Rachier told Citizen TV.

Harrison’s credentials include being a goalkeeper for English premiership side, Stoke City, and coaching Golden Arrows and Black Leopards in the South Africa Premier Soccer League.

The much-travelled Harrison also coached Township Rollers in Botswana for two years before spells as CAPS United and Harare City coach in Zimbabwe and has a reputation for job-hopping.