By Robin Toskin

James Siang’a’s future as Gor Mahia coach was thrown into serious doubt after Sofapaka rode on K’Ogalo’s backs to climb to the helm of the Kenyan Premier League.

And on Monday, the club secretary, Vincent K’Odera, admitted the Old Magician’s future is ‘precarious’ but maintained the management stands by their former goalkeeper they fondly called ‘Abawa.’

Siang’a declined to comment when asked whether the pressure was getting on him after the 2-1 defeat which came on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Sher— a match they had dominated without producing the goods.

On Saturday, Gor fought back from a goal down to Sofapaka in the second half to level the scores through youngster George Odhiambo, but Bob Mugalia’s tantalising strike on 87 minutes set alarm bells ringing for the old magician.

"The team played well against Sofapaka but in the end, we have been left in dilemma. Sofapaka got three chances and took two, yet we created more and still lost. We really don’t know what to make of it. We are going to listen to his (Siang’a’s) story on Tuesday (today)," Kodera said.

The former giants went into the Sofapaka match badly needing a win to silence fans who have grown restless following some near results.

And they seemed to be on course especially after Odhiambo’s equaliser, but in the end it was a case of so near yet so far for Siang’a’s men.

Despite putting Sofapaka on the back foot in the second half, they could not find in their reserves the cutting edge and were punished by a slice of brilliance from the Congolese refugee, Mugalia.

The fans are laid siege outside the dressing room demanding to express their opinion to the former Simba FC coach. A fan, David Onyonyi called on the club to mutually end Siang’a’s contract.

"We love him but we need results. Mzee hana kismat? (slang for has no luck)," a long time Gor fan, Onyonyi, told FeverPitch.