18 man squad to Seychelles named
The 18 member team that will travel to Seychelles for the return leg of the Africa Confederations cup has been named by coach Zdvarko Logarusic.
Gor Mahia will need either a win or a draw with goals to advance. There is nothing that Anse Re-Union did during the first leg that would make anyone think they are the favourites. However they have proven that they are quite capable of frustrating Kogalo. They are technically savvy and capable of adapting their game quickly
Therefore Gor Mahia will need to be extra careful and avoid falling behind. It will not be easy to score an equalizer when Anse Re Union park the bus in front of their goal to defend a one goal lead.
Careful means avoid the kind of mistake that led to Anthony Akumu receiving a red card. Note that when he played the ball and it was intercepted by a header, there was no one behind him to cover the Seychellois striker Rajoy. There should have been a sweeper to cover Akumu. You cannot throw all players forward no matter how badly you need a goal.
However the worrying issue has been the lack of goals as is clearly indicated by the weekly online poll. Coach Logarusic has been focusing on sharpening the front line which was badly wanting during the first leg.
Coach Logarusic has been focusing on sharpening the front line which was badly wanting during the first leg.
“We have worked hard on finishing doing shots and set pieces and I am confident as we head to the return leg, we must score a goal. Beating Tusker in the Cup last weekend gave us a lot of morale and the boys are motivated very much to win this game,” Logarusic told michezoafrika.com
Considering the dramatic improvement of Edwin Lavatsa, it stands to reason that he would be in the starting lineup especially given that of all Kogalo players, Lavatsa ndio ana mbio. And the Seyechellois dont deal well with wasee wale wana mbio. Lavatsa gives Kogalo a good chance of getting the much needed early goal that will prevent Anse reUnion from parking the bus.
The team is as follows
Goalkeepers: Jerim Onyango (Cpt), Ivo Mapunda
Defenders: Solomon Nasio, Donald Mosoti, Christopher Wekesa, Ivan Anguyo, Musa Mohammed, David Owino
Midfielders: Antony Akumu, Moses Otieno, Joseph Njuguna, Moses Odhiambo, Kelvin Omondi, Victor Ali Abondo
Strikers: Rama Salim, Dan Sserunkuma, Edwin Lavatsa, Paul Kiongera
Coach Logarusic let me draw your attention to the last sentence of the fourth paragraph: “…You cannot throw all players forward no matter hpw badly you need a goal.” That is from us laymen, I guess you agree.
Secondly this squad is very good on paper. Play your cards right and ensure you don’t have to make an early substitution in the first half. Come up with a first squad that you are sure that given a chance, can last a full 90 minutes. An early substitution disrupts team strategy, disorganises your plot and puts the team at a disadvantage while leaving your opponent much stronger since he has more options and room to manouvre.
I know you always have a trick up your sleeve and I wont be surprised to see a striking partnership of Chris Wekesa and Ed Lavatsa! All the best. Ushindi ni wetu bila shaka lolote.
I have a question: Whay is Teddy Akumu in the squad, yet he cannot be fielded because of the red card he got in the first leg? Maybe to show appreciation for all the good work he has done for the club thus far; and also for sacrificing himself in getting the red card; and also to help maitain team cohesion …. I have no problem with him going on “vacation” to the Seychelles – just wondering !
Disi – you have just answered your own question: Teddy is there to give moral support to the other team members !
Why send teddy akumu – innocent mutiso has pace and he could have outpaced the entire seychelles defence hands down
It means there are sacred cows or the untouchables as jose mourihno prefers. I hope they wont include Akumu in the match day team sheet even as a substitute as that will lead to fielding in eligible player. What does this to do with other players in the team left at home in terms of morale. Did they appeal the card? This is impunity of the highest order?
The Coach knows what he is doing gentlemen and let us stop asking questions for the sake of it.
Let me join hands with Mguu mtupu @1 that loga is much fond of making avoidable premature substitution, Joseph Njuguna is the victim in most of the early subs. I wish the couch should be starting him in the bench. The match in sicheles is very competitive I hope he will be guided well to make right choices and decisions.
I expect we should at least go past this round.
Sadly (and may those who think its blasphemy to comment on K’galo technical issues bear with me) I have attended several Gor Mahia training sessions and the lack of target practice (apart from penalties) by our forwards worries me. The other thing I’ve never seen any practice for set pieces be it corners or free kicks.
Love-A-Star’s main problem is composure in front of goal i.e his last touch. I maintain if he and the TB can work on this, then with his pace ” this could be the most lethal striker in Kenya”. Kevo14 is another great potential and Rama is very intelligent and calculating and Anguyo if well natured might just solve our midfield problems
That said I wish the team all the best and mrudi na ushindi.
P.S Surely KPL why are you making K’galo and Tusker play each other again so soon.
Executive Community please avoid double headers and weekday home matches since GMFC needs the revenue.Also renegotiate the 20% gate fees.
I have no qualms at all with Teddy’s inclusion in the squad. The guy has been so industrious. Let him go and encourage his replacement.
@Oduor12 I do agree with you about Lavatsa. Evidently he has rediscovered his form. Compare that with the tournament in Uganda a few months ago.
You are very right. Besigye and David Owino are the solution to our added midfield power. As observed elsewhere by Kassam Mwivangano, K14 seems to be holding back or receding in form. How I wish he could just unleash. All in all I truly welcome his new hair style.
I thought someone got a red card in the last match which means he misses some matches. Is the same person included in the 18 man squad?
I understand moral support but spending money to send a player overseas when he cant play does not make sense. Kwani how much moral support and inspiration can Teddy give ?
I guess its a situation where you just have to live with some things to appear diplomatic and relevant. But truly for a team with close to thirty players carrying a red carded player not legible to play in a match does not augur wellfor the entire playing unit.
the reason teddy has to travel to seychellles red car et all is coz he is still part of the plan. he has to see what is being done in the field, he is not supposed to HEAR about it. he did not travel becoz he is being favoured by anyone. coaches by nature will carry along red carded players or even slightly injured first team players not only for moral but they have to be in touch with whats happening. players like teddy, owino and currently lavatsa have changed their game since logar came into the picture. i am sure kiongera is one player who will become a star under his coaching… currently he is still unstable and wants to shine too match but i believe this guy will change. at least we know with loger, if ur simply strolling in the field then u kula bench… and as i said b4 i hope i am not wrong about lavatsa.
@disi: gud to see u got tired of those demonic insults.
might i add that i fear for olaba ur coach, typical kenyan coach… too much excuses. i do not see him lasting coz u guyz will be on his neck soon.the only thng i cannot predict is wether it will be before or after u guyz call for another ‘afc election’.
Achaneni na Akumu aende tour sycheles,he has earned it. I’ve never seen him flop in any match since loga came,from the stands he can feel how it is to play away.
Akumu got a red card but he saved the team an embarasing situation of loosing at hime
PLEASE NOTE THAT @2 ARE NOT MY VIEWS. JUST TO ADD THA @3 IS NOT REAL BUT A STOOGE. THIS GOES ON TO CONFIRM THAT THIS WALL IS FAKE! I DO NOT EXPECT A NJOROGE TO BE AIRING VIEWS ON THIS WALL INSTEAD OF BEING BUSY AT HIS HIS BIASHARA. THE MOMENT YOU GAGGED ME ON THIS WALL AFTER YOU DELETED MY VIEWS, I STOPPED AIRING MY VIEWS. I WILL HOWEVER CONSIDER MY POSITION AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED AND THE TUZO SPONSOR CROWNED PREZZO!