Gor Mahia secretary general Nicanor Arum has defended head coach Charles Akonnor amid growing criticism of the Ghanaian tactician following the club’s disappointing exit from the CAF Champions League.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAkonnor has come under scrutiny after Gor Mahia were eliminated in the first preliminary round by Egyptian side Pyramids, losing 7-1 on aggregate.The Kenyan champions suffered a 2-0 defeat in the first leg at Nyayo Stadium before being thrashed 5-1 in the return leg in Cairo##NAJAVA_MECA_9984472##The heavy aggregate defeat has sparked criticism from sections of the club’s fan base, with questions raised over Akonnor’s tactical approach, defensive organization, and ability to prepare the team for high-level continental football.Calls for the former Ghana international to leave have emerged following the result, with the magnitude of the defeat adding to the pressure on the coach barely weeks into his tenure.Arum, however, believes the Ghana international should not be judged solely on the Champions League outcome, pointing to the lack of competitive matches available to the coach before the continental campaign.“We cannot blame the coach and judge him for our exit from the Champions League. He was not exposed to competitive matches before this campaign, and that is something we have to consider,” Arum said.Kariobangi Sharks chairman explains why club stood firm in playoff rowGor had been affected by the delayed start of the domestic season, meaning Akonnor entered the Champions League campaign without the benefit of regular competitive league matches.The situation was further compounded by the club’s participation in the CECAFA Club Championship, where K'Ogalo reached the final before losing to Rwanda’s Rayon Sports.Arum believes that run should also be considered when assessing Akonnor’s work since his appointment.“Even in CECAFA, we cannot blame the coach. He was not subjected to competitive football before the tournament, but he still managed to take the team to the final. Let us give him time and see what will come out of it,” he added.AFCON 2027: Sifuna questions rising Talanta Stadium construction costThe club official also called for perspective after the Pyramids defeat, noting that football produces different results and that Gor must learn from the experience rather than place the responsibility entirely on the coach.“In football, there are only three results: a win, a draw, or a loss. We have to accept that and learn from what happened,” he said.Ababu Namwamba's message to FKF ahead of 2027 AFCONAkonnor has also acknowledged the shortcomings from the second-leg defeat, with defensive mistakes contributing significantly to Pyramids’ five-goal haul in Cairo.The Ghanaian tactician now faces the task of addressing those weaknesses while rebuilding confidence within a squad that has endured a difficult start to the season.##NAJAVA_MECA_9984512##
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