Gor Mahia Name Ghanaian Coaching Duo

Former Ghana national team boss Charles Kwablan Akonnor has been appointed head coach of Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia.

The club made the announcement on Friday, revealing that Akonnor will be joined by fellow Ghanaian Bismark Kobi-Mensah as his assistant.

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Akonnor, who previously led Ghana’s Black Stars, brings a wealth of experience and leadership both on and off the pitch.

"We are delighted to announce the appointment of Charles Akonnor from Ghana as our new Head Coach. The former Black Stars manager brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned tactician. Welcome to Mahia, Coach Akonnor," reads the statement.

Gor Mahia also confirmed Bismark Kobi-Mensah’s role as Assistant Head Coach. Mensah has previously coached at Great Olympics and Karela United in the Ghana Premier League.

The club’s technical bench is also seeing further reinforcements. Former Ghana U20 goalkeeper’s trainer Ben Owu has been named goalkeeper coach.

Owu, a respected figure in youth football circles in Ghana, is expected to bolster Gor Mahia’s goalkeeping unit with his specialized training and international exposure.

In addition, the club has appointed Brian Odongo as the new Team Doctor. Odongo is a certified sports medicine specialist with broad experience across different sporting disciplines.

His inclusion signals the club’s intent to prioritize player health and injury prevention during the upcoming season.

Akonnor’s career as a footballer saw him rise through the ranks from Ghanaian colts club Young Hearts to Bundesliga stardom with VfL Wolfsburg, where he captained the side in the 2001–02 season. He made over 140 appearances and scored more than 20 goals for the German club.

Internationally, Akonnor was capped 51 times by Ghana, scoring 13 goals and captaining the team between 1998 and 2001.

He represented Ghana at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and was part of the 1996 Olympic squad that reached the quarterfinals.

His coaching career has taken him to clubs such as Hearts of Oak, Ashanti Gold, Dreams FC, and Asante Kotoko, whom he led to victory in the 2019 GFA Normalization Committee Special Competition.

In 2020, he was appointed head coach of the Ghana national team, a role he held until September 2021.