Despite the club’s uninspiring play in preseason, Gor Mahia coach Marcelo “Ze Maria” Ferreira has urged fans to exercise patience as the team angles for a strong start in the 2017 SportPesa Premier League season.

The Brazilian tactician said that even though Gor had lost all four of their preseason friendly games, those results did not reflect the quality and ability of the team.

He told Kpl.co.ke that being a preseason period, the technical bench was still testing players for levels of fitness, team work and combinations to ensure that they come up with the most suitable starting lineup when the league season kicks off.

He said this preseason period involved a good measure of trial and error and the fans should therefore be calm as he tinkered with the squad to come up with a well-oiled machine that would fight to regain the league title they lost to Tusker last year.

Said Ferreris: “You know we lost the title last season. That already tells you that we need to change a few things here and there so that nobody beats us this time round.

“I know that friendly matches are used to gauge a team’s preparedness, but they can also be used as a platform to test the things that work and those that don’t. We are in preseason and as you know, there are a few new players who have joined us.

“That means that we have to find the right balance to ensure that we are able to make a good start in the league and sustain that performance until the end of the season. The fans shouldn’t get worried at all by these results. Things shall be different when the league commences,” he assured.

K’Ogalo have had a poor run in their preseason friendlies so far which culminated in an unexpected 3-2 loss to lower tier side Administration Police on Thursday February 16 at the Camp Toyoyo grounds in Nairobi.

Before that, the 15-time league champions had lost, 2-1, 2-0, 1-0 and 2-1 to Thika United, Onduparaka of Uganda, Sudanese club Al Hilal and Police FC respectively.

This multiple thumping has now become a source of great concern and consternation to the club’s diehard fans who had to endure a season without trophy last year and the pressure will be on the Brazilian to satisfy the demanding Green Army, who want nothing less than all titles their beloved K’Ogalo contest for.