October 2015 – Page 2 – Gor Mahia News

Unstoppable Gor Mahia floor Sofapaka

October 21, 2015October 22, 2015 by admin

Those who were worried about Gor Mahia players losing their motivation or worried about a seemingly porous defence need not worry. Gor Mahia dismissed those fears with a clinical demolition of Sofapaka on Wedensday by a score of 2-0.

Ali Abondo confirmed his return to scoring form when he picked up a loose ball following Olunga’s header to plant the ball in the net in the 21st minute. Michael Olunga moved closer to the league top scorer slot when he found the back of the net in the 77th minute.

Gor Mahia dominated the early exchanges. Only three minutes into the match, Innocent Wafula’s effort was cleared off the line. Meddie Kagere and Karim Nizigiyimana had a field day operating on the flanks. The Sofapaka full back duo of Heritier Luvalu and Anthony Ndolo had no answer for them. Kagere came close to doubling the lead in the 35th minute when he latched onto a cross from Olunga but his effort went overboard.

Sofapaka came back a better side in the second half and even forced a penalty in the 61st minute when Boniface Oluoch in the Kogalo goal was adjudged to have fouled a Sofapaka player. But Oluoch stifled Sofapaka when he punched John Baraza’s corner out.

The marauding Kagere was at it again in the 77th minute when he picked up a through ball from Nizigiyimana but his attempt was blocked by Sofapaka custodian David Okello. Olunga latched onto the loose ball to score. Olunga now has 16 goals but still four behind Jesse Were in the league scorers chart.

Gor Mahia seek to extend unbeaten run against Sofapaka

October 20, 2015October 20, 2015 by admin

Fans celebrate after the win over SoNy Sugar clinched the league title

After a 15 day hiatus from the Kenya Premier League, Gor Mahia will resume their campaign on Wednesday when they take on Sofapaka. The league title is already wrapped up. The main issue left in the campaign is to maintain the unbeaten run which if it is maintained will be quite historic.

Gor Mahia will be missing the services of dependable utility player Geoffrey Walusimbi and Rwandese fullback Abouba Sibomana. In the past few games, the lack of defensive specialists has forced coach Frank Nuttall to experiment with players like Eric Ochieng and Innocent Wafula in defense with mixed results. Individually they are capable defenders. But playing as a defensive unit requires a level of coordination that takes several games to build. Coach Nuttall will be keenly aware that Sofapaka are intent on taking advantage of such defensive mixups.

Whereas the defense has had issues, the attack is not a problem. Sofapaka will have nightmares dealing with the duo of Michael Olunga and Meddie Kagere who have scored 15 and 13 goals respectively. They will have another crack at catching up with Jessie Were of Tusker who has scored 19. The resurgent Ali Hassan Abondo can be counted on for goals. Should any of them get tired, there will still be no relief for Sofapaka because either Blackberry or Agwanda will be coming off the bench to terrorize Sofapaka. Both have been sensational of late. Blackberry has recently shown shades of his 2010 persona.

But more important is the fact that the attack have been coordinating very well and playing unselfish football.

Ticketing Info: VIP tickets will be sold at Ksh.500 while those of the terraces will trade at Ksh.200 each. Match tickets will be sold on match day at City Stadium parking area from Big Brother branded vans.

Kickoff Time per KPL website: at 1600 hours on October 21

Nuttall: Surface was unplayable

October 19, 2015 by admin

On Saturday, Gor Mahia gave up a two goal lead agains Tusker a Afraha stadium and ended up settling for a 2-2 draw in the KPL Top 8 first leg match. Frank Nuttall has praised his charges. He however noted that the playing surface a Afraha stadium was less than ideal for Gor Mahia’s style of play.

“I am not happy with the way we threw away the two goal lead; it did not feel good at all. But we should also blame the pitch, its condition was not good and it could not allow us to play as we usually do.” said Nuttall to goal.com

Teams like Tusker and Ulinzi that thrive on physical play and long balls are better suited to playing on uneven surfaces.

Nuttall further indicated that due to injuries especially in defence, he has had to field players like Innocent Wafula and Eric Ochieng in unfamiliar defensive positions.

“We had to do without several players, that is why some played in unfamiliar positions. It is however, done, and our focus now is on the second leg.” he continued.

With Tusker being the home team, the two goals Gor Mahia scored will count as away goals which will offer Gor Mahia an advantage. A draw of 1-1 or 0-0 will see them through to the final.

“But two away goals is an advantage to us and we shall have to make sure we perform well in the return leg so that we can qualify,” he continued.

On a positive note, Ali Hassan Abondo appears to have regained the form that saw him top the scorers charts in the first leg. In the las two games, he has scored 3 goals, created an assist and forced a penalty.

Gor Mahia will take on Tusker in the return leg will be played in Nairobi on Wednesday 4 November.

Gor Mahia held by Tusker

October 17, 2015October 17, 2015 by Video

Gor Mahia were held to a 2-2 draw by Tusker in a KPL Top 8 semi-final first leg encounter at Afraha Stadium. Gor Mahia scored through Ali Abondo and from a penalty by Meddie Kagere.

It was Gor Mahia who started more brightly. Midfielder Ali Abondo appears to be regaining the form that saw him top the scorers chart in the first leg. He put Gor Mahia in the lead with a well taken shot in the 11th minute. Abondo was largely responsible for the second goal. It was he who was fouled in the box by Lloyed Wahome. Meddie Kagere put GorMahia further ahead in the 37th minute from the spot. Gor Mahia appeared firmly in the driving seat.

Tusker started to fight back after conceding the second goal. Kevin Kimani’s effort off a freekick struck the cross bar in the 44th minute.

But Gor Mahia were playing with a makeshift defence with Eric Ochieng deployed in central defence. Skipper Jesse Were, who was recently banned from the national team for misconduct, pulled one back in the 53rd when he caught the defence off guard. Tusker continued to pile pressure. Eugene Asike finally scored the equalizer in injury time.

Coach Frank Nuttall now admits that he will have to shore up his defence prior to the second leg.
“Given many different circumstances, we are pleased to get away goals but we are disappointed we did not win but we can do better to defend well in the second leg. We had a couple of chances and we utilized them so im relativelyhappy.

“Our two left players are injured so we tried to find solution and given all that, many things must be considered. We have advantage but we will be looking to make sure we go throughout that tie,” said Nuttall.

More to come………….

Is Frank Nuttall headed to Tusker

October 17, 2015October 17, 2015 by admin

Reports in a local paper suggested that Tusker have initiated talks with coach Frank Nuttall

Gor Mahia have been paying official salaries late causing some to lose patience. Already Mathew Ottamax has left and Frank Ouna stopped working months ago. All this makes it even more imperative that fans contribute financially to the club.

Porous defence a worry as Tusker beckons

October 16, 2015October 16, 2015 by admin

Coach Frank Nuttall has moved to assuage fans concerns about the fact that Gor Mahia has been conceding more goals than usual. In the Kenya Premier League, Gor Mahia has a stellar defensive record, conceding only 12 goals in 26 matches. However in the last few matches, Gor Mahia has conceded more goals than usual. Against Palos on Wednesday, Gor Mahia conceded two goals. They conceded a similar number against Ushuru FC in the previous round.

Coach Frank Nuttall explains it by saying that the team is now more focused on entertaining the fans by attacking with abandon.

“The game was good we had possession and made use of the chances we had for the goals which are the main goal in such kind of a competition. “We were not to come here and keep a clean sheet so we headed out to try and score goals and when that happens sometimes that happens that you concede goals,” he said. to supersport.com

Note also that Gor Mahia were playing without dependable defenders Karim Nizigiyimana and Abouba Sibomana.

Gor Mahia will need to shore up their defence when they face Tusker this Sunday in the KPL Top 8 semis first leg. It was Tusker who eliminated Gor Mahia last season and Gor Mahia will be going for nothing short of revenge. Tusker have heard a poor season, including their recent elimination from the GoTV shield by second tier team Nzoia FC. That loss caused the departure of coach Francis Kimanzi. New coach Leonard Odipo will be eager to make a good impression when he coaches his first game against Gor Mahia.

But Gor Mahia will be in no mood to compromise as they pursue a title they have not won since 2011. Not to mention the fact that Kogalo are eager to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Gor Mahia beat Palos to move to GoTV quarters

October 14, 2015October 15, 2015 by admin

Gor Mahia beat Palos FC of Kisumu 4-2 to keep their hopes of 4 titles alive. It was an entertaining match in which Palos FC of Kisumu gave a good account of themselves. Notable for Palos was Calvince Omanga who scored twice.

For Gor Mahia, Ali Hassan Abondo was oustanding, scoring two goals against his former side. His first goal came mere minutes into the match when he latched onto a flick from Michael Olunga to wrong-foot Palos goalkeeper Geoffrey Were. Palos soon equalized when Omanga picked up a pass from Bernard Ochieng before beating Jerim Onyango with a groundshot.

Player of the month, Meddie Kagere played a key role in the second goal, leading the counter attack before releasing Michael Olunga to score an easy goal. Ali Abondo netted his second on resumption when he picked up a pass from Ernest Wendo.

Omanga was on hand to reduce the arrears when he tapped in a cross. Harun Shakava then sealed the score when he converted a cross from Ali Abono in the 75th minute.

Player of the month Kagere to lead Kogalo against Palos

October 14, 2015 by admin

Meddie Kagere’s form during the month of September was nothing short of sensational. He scored four times and provided two assists. For his efforts, he was named the SportPesa/SJAK Player of the month for September.

The other finalists were Nairobi City Stars’ Gambian striker Ebrimah Sanneh and Chemelil Sugars’ Meshack Karani.

Kagere was rewarded with a trophy, a 43 – inch TV and Kshs 50,000. He dedicated his speech to his team-mates.

“I am very happy after receiving this award and I thank the sports journalists and the sponsors who have made it possible. I wouldn’t have done it without the help of my team mates who have been great. Actually this is not my award but their award,” he said.

He becomes the third Gor Mahia player to have bagged it since its inception. Other Gor Mahia players who have won the recognition are Victor Ali Abondo and defender Karim Nizigiyimana.

Gor Mahia fans will be hoping that Kagere will continue with his sensational form when they take on Palos of Kisumu in the GoTV shield round of 16. This is especially true given that talisman Michael Olunga is being rested along with Boniface Oluoch in order to give them time to recuperate after playing two matches against Mauritius.

Other players who will be rested are Abouba Sibomana, Karim Nizigiyimana who have been in international duty and Geoffrey Walusimbi who is injured. Assistant coach Bobby Ogolla however says there is no cause for alarm.

“There is no need for worry. Gor Mahia is a big club and we intend to sweep all the medals and titles that come in our way.

“We are missing a few of our players due to the international break, but that is not a problem because we have other replacements that are equally capable of finishing the work,” he said. said Bobby Legend to the KPL website.

Gor Mahia will be looking to maintain their momentum towards four titles. But Palos will be no pushovers. Many of their players will be looking ti impress in order to catch the eye of KPL teams.

“Forget about the pressure. For almost all my players, this is the biggest game of their lives so you can imagine the kind of motivation that comes with that,” said Palos coach Paul Ogai.

“They know that Gor has had a great season and some of them are even followers of the team, but they are determined to get through to the finals and they are ready to deal with the challenge,” said coach Paul Ogal of Palos to the KPL site.

Video Highlights: Gor Mahia dim Sofapaka

October 11, 2015October 22, 2015 by admin

Month: October 2015