Blackberry stars as Kenya book semis ticket
George Odhiambo Blackberry is receiving rave reviews for his excellent play at the ongoing CECAFA senior challenge cup. He was in fine form again as Kenya beat Tanzania Bara to book a place in the semi-finals.
Also in action today was captain Musa Mohamed, Ernest Wendo and Wesley Onguso who is reported to be joining Kogalo
Additional reporting from Capital FM
Kenya, Dec 11- Kenya’s Harambee Stars have qualified for the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup semi-finals as Group A winners after beating Tanzania 1-0 in Machakos on Monday and will pay Group B’s second placed side Burundi in Machakos on Thursday.
Kenya finished the group stage matches with eight points, one ahead of Zanzibar who will play defending champions and Group B winners Uganda Cranes in the second semi on Friday.
AFC Leopards forward Vincent Oburu repaid the faith shown in him by head coach Paul Put handing him his first ever start for the national team as he tapped home a 20th minute goal to hand Stars the win.
Put made changes to his forward line for his fourth match in charge of the team, handing Oburu a starting role as the team’s lead strikers supported on either wing by George Odhiambo and Ovella Ochieng.
Chris Oduor who started ahead of Whyvonne Isuza was handed the supporting striker’s role, playing behind Oburu. Gor Mahia midfield workhorse Ernest Wendo also started his first match for the national team, coming in the place of Duncan Otieno.
Libya’s 1-0 win over Zanzibar in the early kick off handed Kenya a confidence boost of sorts as they knew they only needed a point to get t the last four. However, the pressure was for them to win and top the group.
They should have opened the scoring five minutes into the tie when a mistake by Erasto Nyoni in his own box handed Ovellah Ochieng a chance, but the Kariobangi Sharks forward placed the ball over with only the keeper to beat.
Startiing Patrick Matasi(GK), Musa Mohammed (C), Jockins Atudo, Dennis Sikhayi, Wesley Onguso, Ernest Wendo, Patillah Omotto, Vincent Oburu(Kefa Aswani) , Chrispin Oduor, (Whyvonne Isuza), Ovella Ochieng, (Samuel Onyango) George Odhiambo,
Unused Subs: Gabriel Andika (GK), Boniface Oluoch (GK), Said Tsuma, Bernard Ochieng, Masoud Juma, Wellington Ochieng, Charles Momanyi, Issack Kipyegon, Duncan Otieno
arlier on, Odhiambo had come close for Kenya with a low shot from the edge of the area which went wide.
Stars were dominating possession but were guilty of losing it often, the biggest culprits being Ovella on the right and Oduor who had been deployed as the support striker behind Oburu.
Ovella however made amends in the 20th minute, this time not taking too many touches. He set himself up with the first touch before crossing low into the box to an awaiting Oburu who had the simplest task of tapping the ball gone with the keeper beaten.
It was a pressure relieving goal for Kenya who had only scored one from open play prior.
Tanzania though grew in confidence after going down as they sought for an equalizer, but they couldn’t breach a watertight Kenyan backline.
In the 32nd minute defender Dennis Sikhayi almost caught Tanzania keeper Peter Manyika offguard with a long range effort which however went wide.
In the second half, there wasn’t much of action infront of goal. The best chances of the last 45 fell on Odhiambo whose first shot from the left was saved by the keeper while in his second attempt, his outstretched foot three yards off goal failed to connect to an Ochieng cross.
kudos bb talented indeed
jalni ovella ber kodwa his trickery is better for us in terrorizing opponents defence.. blackberry on opposite wing, ovella/ade/sam will be better
..now get gaikan, ovella, onguso n momanyi/ojwang papee works done though momanyi better
Am not saying we sign ovella but in my opinion he looks good value for money..however,Gor is a different preposition,you might shine elsewhere and fail in Gor…Baron Oketch comes to mind!!
Ovella we tried luring last season but mwendwa would hear none of it,those are his future prized assets for sale abroad,actually they are 3,Messrs Masoud Juma,Patillah Omotto and Ovella Ochieng.Still i believe that right wing is well covered,even Innocent Wafula if on form is equally good at terrorizing opponents defences,add Ade,Maloba,Samuel Onyango and boniface Omondi and that wing is too full of talent,i rather we beef our striking force with Guikan and Vincent Oburu and the defenders Onguso,Momanyi and creative midfielder to replace outgoing Muguna.Congrats BB for redidcovering form for both club & country
Ivorian Ephrem Guikan Officially Joins Gor Mahia by Boniface Osano soka25east
Cote d’Ivoire striker Ephrem Guikan has penned a two-year-deal with Kenyan Premier League Champions Gor Mahia.
Guikan has been in the country since last month to complete the move from Mauritius’ topflight side AS Port Louis 2000 to K’Ogalo.
“Guikan has signed a two-year contract. We received his release letter yesterday and he’s now officially ours,” Ronald Ngala, Gor’s Assistant Secretary General said.
The 24-year-old was born in Abidjan where he started his career and played for five times Ligue 1 winner Stade d’Abidjan before moving to Mauritius.
It was during his Stade d’Abidjan stint that he earned a call up to Cote d’Ivoire U23 national team.
He scored twice as Port Louis eliminated Kenyan giants Tusker FC from the African Champions League early this year.
Apart from the Ivorian, the 16 times KPL Champions have already signed Kevin “Ade” Omondi from Police FC on a three-year-deal and are closing in on more signatures.
Ngala disclosed that they have reached an agreement with Ulinzi Stars for the services of Samuel Onyango who will soon be crossing over.
“We have had a deal with Ulinzi over Samuel and we expect to conclude his signing soon.”
Samuel is currently engaged with the national team Harambee Stars in the ongoing CECAFA Senior Challenge.
Kenneth Muguna
Ngala has acknowledged KF Tirana’s interest in creative midfielder Kenneth Muguna, however, he says the club will not let the player to go for free.
“We have given Tirana an offer and a deadline for them to make a move. We paid good money to sign the player and we have made him know that we can’t let him go for free,” Ngala said.
The reigning KPL most valuable player joined Gor from Western Stima on a four-year-deal that was rumored to be the most expensive move in the transfer window.
Albania’s Tirana is coached by former Gor Mahia Brazillian Jose Marcelo Ferreira “Ze Maria” who has wanted Mugana and three other players to follow him to the second division side.
Gor will represent the country in the African Champions League next year and have set a target of reaching groups stage of the competition.
The club’s management has thus moved to renew contracts of key players in order to ensure continuity and are unwilling to sell during this transfer window.
cool, kindly confirm the momanyi and onguso saga,,,
then finally adier adier can danco be much superior to
wendo as far as dm is concerned,,, to me a big no may be cover up….
let tb scout on the creative mid,,,, Lawrence not bad but I have reservations
Futaa reports that a new constitution has been drafted and reduces EC to just five members, makes becoming a member easy and recognizes branches as part of club structure. If true kudos to ADOR as these are some of the things I have seen members of this forum ventilate extensively. Before we proceed to diminish this feat and demand a stadium, club house, training ground… Let’s thank God for his little mercies!!!
In other new Guikan jets in Dec 26 to agree personal terms. Which is which? And CL draw is today
Kogallo play Equatorial Guinea, Very fair from my perspective.
The real war is in the second round, ‘If Gor Mahia make it past the preliminary round, they have been scheduled to play the winner between ASAC Concorde of Mauritania and Tunisia’s Esperence, the side they beat in their 1987 Mandela Cup Conquest.
If Gor beats Esperance du Tunis, they will earn a ticket to the Group Stages.”
Guys, Guikan has NOT be signed !! Fact : he has not signed and anything else is fake news. He is signing next year and on a different note, we might just play esperance again in CAF 2nd round 2018.
tafakari hayo……
@ jamriambo, should we loose to esperance in the 2nd round, am told we can still make it to the group stages of confederation cup through a playoff…..so we have nothing to fear!!!
WE HAVE TO BELIEVE
Hiiii Esperance, God help us, again!!??!!! These draws are fixed thoooo?!?
nani alichagua Samuel
nani alichagua Samuel; please remember we might face Esperance in our 2nd round game
Do we always have to draw Esperance De Tunis in second round all the time?Last we tried and went past US Bitam of Gabon who tried all tricks to unfairly knock us out lesding to Jerry saving two penalties away the Esperance hit us 8-2 on aggregate to see us off,3-2 home and 5-0 away.Why cant we draw another team and not this perennial rivals bwana Waol gi Jogi…
We have to beat Esperance for the old Gor to be awakened