This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On Thursday, Steve Polack is expected to be named the new coach of Gor Mahia, the Kenyan football champions. However, before that, he has a crucial task at hand - leading the team to a win against Aigle Noir Makamba FC in the preliminary round of the 2019/2020 Caf Champions League.
Polack arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday at 2:42pm to replace Hassan Oktay, who resigned citing personal problems in Europe. The Englishman will sign a two-year contract on Thursday before departing with the team to Bujumbura on Friday morning.
Polack's appointment comes after a rigorous interview process, where he emerged as the top candidate from among 40 applicants. He has extensive experience in African football management, having coached several clubs including KPV and Viking in Finland.
Polack's coaching career has not been without its challenges. In 2017, he was involved in a road accident in Ghana that left one member of the technical bench dead and several others injured. Despite this setback, Polack has continued to coach and is now set to take charge of Gor Mahia.
As the new coach of Gor Mahia, Polack's targets include retaining the league title and leading the team to at least the group stage of the continental tournament this season.
