Hassan Oktay arrives in Kenya to take over at Gor Mahia

Gor Mahia’s new coach Hassan Oktay has arrived in Kenya ready to start work.

Goal understands, the Kenyan champions have agreed terms to hire Hassan Oktay, a coach of Cypriot Turkish origin, to replace Dylan Kerr, who left the club to join Black Leopards in South Africa.

Oktay arrived in Kenya on Sunday and was received at JKIA by team manager Jolawi Abondo. According to a source within the club, Oktay will sign an initial one-year contract that will be renewed if he impresses.

“It is true. Oktay is due in the country on Sunday (today). He is coming for a three-month probation but will then sign a one-year contract. We feel that he has the capacity to lead this great club."

A total of 53 coaches had applied for the vacant role since Kerr left the club. Oktay is currently assistant coach at Braintree Town FC where the head coach is another Turk Hakan Hayrettin. Braintree is a semi-professional team that plays in the English fifth tier and are currently at the bottom of the table.

Oktay is a Uefa ‘A’ Licensed coach and has had stints in England, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. In his last head coaching job, Oktay handled Grays Athletic in the Isthmian league which is a regional league in London. The club finished 14th out of 22 teams.

The new coach will be in the standards to watch Gor Mahia take on Kariobangi Sharks in the Super Cup on Sunday.