Gor Mahia are set to play Harambee stars in a friendly match. Harambee stars are using the match to gauge their strength as they prepare to play Ethiopia in the return leg of the CHAN qualifiers set for this weekend. Harambee stars have a tall order as they try to reverse a 2-0 loss. They will need to score three clear goals. To this end, Stars coach Bobby Williamson has announced that he will be counting on Gor Mahia talisman Michael Olunga.
“I am very impressed with Olunga’s form. He has been scoring some fantastic goals. “He was quite impressive against Chemelil Sugar and we expect to see him in the same form against Ethiopia,” said coach Williamson to the Standard.
Williamson however warned against being too dependent on one player.
“At the end of the day, it is a team effort and we cannot afford to rely on one player. He might get injured and then we will be in big trouble,” he added.
To score goals, Stars will need motivation from passionate home fans. Williamson expressed his hope that fans will turn out in large numbers.
“Our fans are very passionate and we know that their presence will play a big role in helping us go through.
“We urge them to come and support us because we have a good team and will our best not to disappoint them.”
The FKF will need a strong marketing campaign to get despondent fans to turn up at the stadium.
Aside from scoring, Stars must avoid conceding goals. The central defence has been jittery. The first goal Ethiopia scored was due to the inability of a Stars defender to deal decisively with a cross. And then there was Jackson saleh’s inexplicable handball in Congo. To shore up the defence, Williamson has called up the Gor Mahia duo of Haron Shakava, Musa Mohamed and Thika United’s Dennis Odhiambo.
For Gor Mahia, this is chance to stay sharp since they do not have any fixtures this weekend. It is also a chance to provide players like Wycliff Juma, Timothy Otieno, Eric Ochieng and others a chance to fight their way into the starting line-up. Meanwhile players like Kagere, Nigiziyimana should be rested in anticipation of next week’s midweek fixture.
Paul Were joins Gor Mahia
A new report suggests that Paul Were signed for Gor Mahia at the very last moment of the transfer deadline.
“It’s official Paul Were is our player now after signing a six month contract with us”, confirmed Jolawi Obondo on the club’s site.