Oktay knows exactly what to do with cash award

Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay collects his goodies from Fidelity Insurance Marketing Manager Nicholas Malesi after being named Coach of the Month for February at Camp Toyoyo on March 21, 2019. PHOTO | COURTESY |

What you need to know:

  • Oktay said he was keen to add a wide player to the Gor ranks in the current transfer window, even as he prepares his side for the business end of the 2018/2019 campaign.
  • The Kenyan champions are challenging for honours in the SportPesa Premier League, FKF SportPesa Shield, and Confederation Cup.

Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay has joked he intends to use the prize money awarded to him for winning the Fidelity Insurance/Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) Coach of the Month for February award to replace his stolen phone.

The Cypriot was handed a trophy and Sh75,000 as reward for bagging the monthly coaches' gong at a brief ceremony at Camp Toyoyo ground in Nairobi.

Oktay revealed on Monday that he lost his phone when he was lifted high by jubilant fans after his team’s 1-0 win over Angola’s Petro Atletico during Sunday’s Confederation Cup match at MISC, Kasarani.

“Now I got the funds to buy another phone,” the trainer told Nation Sport on Thursday.

“This award makes me very happy because someone is appreciating the kind of job and it motivates me. I wish to win trophies domestically this season, and also try and at least get to the final of the Confederation Cup.”

Oktay said he was keen to add a wide player to the Gor ranks in the current transfer window, even as he prepares his side for the business end of the 2018/2019 campaign.

The Kenyan champions are challenging for honours in the SportPesa Premier League, FKF SportPesa Shield, and Confederation Cup.

Oktay was handed the award for emerging the best among the 18 coaches in the Kenyan Premier League in the month of February with 12 points in a poll conducted by an SJAK panel.