Gor Mahia edge Nakumatt 1-0
Kogalo have seemingly recovered their winning groove. They recorded their second successive win on the local scene after having gone winless in three matches. And the other good news is that the Dylan Kerr era has started on a sound note.
Additional reporting from the Nation
Rwandese international Jacques Tuyisenge’s lone goal against Nakumatt FC guided Gor Mahia back to the top of the SportPesa Premier League table in an encounter played on Wednesday at the Nyayo Stadium.
Tuyisenge slotted home the opener in the eleventh minute after a quick breakaway by George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo on the left flank
Gor leapfrogged Posta Rangers at the helm on 34 points with a game in hand. Rangers had gone top after their 1-0 win over champions Tusker early on at the same venue.
“We are still struggling to finish off our chances. Technically we don’t seem okay but I can’t blame anyone, this is not Europe. Again, Nakumatt were specialists in set pieces an area we’ve to work on,” Gor coach Dylan Kerr said after the match.
His Nakumatt counterpart Anthony Mwangi promised a better side after the one-week break owing to the upcoming General elections.
“Lapse in concentration led to the goal but we shall revisit our weaknesses yet again. At least today we managed to keep them on check but we can’t rejoice in the defeat. We’ve to come back stronger,” he said.
Gor Mahia quickly took control of possession from the opening whistle. Odhiambo on the 22nd minute saw his shot parried by Sammy Okinda in the Nakumatt post for a fruitless corner.
A minute after the half hour mark, Robert Omnuk raced down the right flank, did well by beating his marker but his cross targeting Kepha Aswani was blocked by Haron Shakava.
Godfrey Walusimbi took dead ball duties whenever they came their way. His well curled 35th minute corner was saved off the line by Okinda and a rebound from Boniface Omondi easily picked by the former KCB FC man.
Gor could have doubled the lead in the 39th minute. Omondi set up Karim Nizigiyiman on the right flank and the Burundian swiftly released a low cross with Meddie Kagere the target but the Ugandan born striker hit the side net.
Kagere once again hit the side nett in the 86th minute as Okinda stood out the entire second half.
Nakumatt’s chances to equalize were dented with frequent offsides. Their threats forced the Gor backline on their foot as Dylan Kerr and his assistant Zedekiah Otieno severally stood on the touchline issuing instructions.
Peter Odhiambo in Gor goal was tested on few occasions but none of the shots would threaten him as he went on to keep his second consecutive clean sheet.
Strikers yawa, thoooooo……though i like this new found 4-4-2 or the corrupted version 4-2-2-2 system. As the coach said, it compliments our inherent strength as Africans or as others put it ‘ jodala ‘.
With others faltering, We simply need to win the next 8 league games on the trot…… and you can be assured that the league is as good as wrapped up.
Good luck boys and best wishes !
My brother Jakoyo I think we have had enough of this Jodala crap. Outgrow it please. Why do you insist on drying up where you have taken your bath? Move on man. The term is outdated and out-rightly repugnant to cohesion and tranquility both within and without the team. When you talk of “or as others put it ‘ jodala” do you realize that you are either being delusional or engaging in wishful thinking; because the truth is that it is you who coined the jodala monster and it is only you who is stuck with it. It appears you are imagining that you have a plethora of followers who subscribe to the same jodala school of thought. Hakuna mwingine ndugu yangu. Hakuna, bali ni wewe peke yako!
It is ‘Repugnant’ indeed!!
Technically the team is still down according to Kerr. In 5 chances we concert only one. Still pathetic. But this is africa
Congrats team, technical bench, ever present fans and executive committee for sweet victory.
Amor with the win but reservations is that we are still technically aloof. Knowing how to build, where to position and how to react intelligently to the first ball or second touch is an uphill task to many players. This is the Reason why Karim will always bring in 30 identical crosses that yield nothing but still insist on the same tact or Kagere blasting wide 5 times from point black range only to look unto the high heavens as if under some imaginable curse. I can’t likewise blame anyone since Coach Kerr uptly puts it this is Africa where we grow up to 23 years playing soccer without even possessing proper ball-control techniques and try to learn those basics while approaching 30 years while in Europe at under 10 and 12 age-groups those techniques have been imparted and the mind sharpened to react as required to technical soccer situations. All the same Congrats team for the vital win, go for the Title we will improve those aspects later in continental competitions next year
Kerr making excuses about the poor quality of Kenya players?
He should adapt his tactics to the players he has
@Jitangare, I do not think it is just an excuse but a reality. Look at KPL, there are no goals and I think we do not have strikers in the caliber of Olunga, Oliech etc. I suggest that coaches need to tap into the secondary school lads that can be molded into great strikers.
@Jamigori, I agree with you and in fact I add my voice and suggest that luck of outright Strikers be declared a National disaster. As you, they need to picked early enough right from playing with the paper or plastic balls in the estates, in the open fields where ever. I think that picking them from Secondary Schools is already late.
Just read what Witz coach in SA said about a Kenyan striker who went there for trials
Which striker, the one who was prefered over Ulinzi’s Waruru in H.Stars? If it’s him then am not surprised! Problem with Kenya and even Gor Mahia is “kawna nyathi yuora, kawna Thiago and 10% commissions” instead of merit recruitments. It starts from the youth level. To Ker don’t equate Kenya football to African soccer but again i can’t blame him given his level of coaching experience so far. We want to win a CAF title not the World Club Championship so Africa is not a problem at this level. Also GMFC ain’t H.Stars so Ker can identify and recruit talented Zambians, Ugandans etc (in Dec17) to address the team’s shortcomings. Kudos for the win.
Dan Original where can i find Bidvest Wits Coach comments on one Masoud Juma? Truth is i said it very clearly that Nick Mwendwa colluded with his proxy Coach Stanley Okumbi to Hype masoud Juma’s profile with a singular view of selling him abroad so Kariobangi Sharks can profit from transfer fees. I mean that player was released by Bandari FC for non-performance and went on the Bosman to Sony Sugar where he had no impact worth talking about. Fast forward to Kariobangi in 2017 and with 3 league goals overnight he became Harambee Stars first team material ahead of Jesse Were for the Sierra Leone match where his contribution was losing a clear one vis one chance to put us ahead. Huyo hayuko kabisa and all that propping and hyping for expected sales has fallen flat
Zesco team that reached the CAF 2016 finals had 3 Kenyans, 2 of whom are ex-Gor Mahia players. Not all Barcelona player are Spanish.Good players come at a cost and the club must spend to retain them. GMFC can afford good players but bloated EC must decide to either invest in football or their stomachs and make do with a squad of compromised quality. Are’nt these the same players who were being sugar coated as “tiki taka” proponents just 2 month ago, what has happened? GMFC struggles with continue, by design, as long EC maintains a strangle hold and has final say on player signings. Hope Ker can change this, does’nt look like the “yes sir type”.
When things were thick about this K’Ogalo striking force and inability to release one foreigner and go for a proven west african jaggernaut i went ahead to propose we sign Kepha Aswani as our lead striker option to which i met resistance that he was too ingwe in his DNA to don the green and white…Still with his 6 or 7 league goals he ranks as the SPL second top scorer chasing the golden boot with Stephen waruru. I ask now brothers, might i have been right in proposing that unfathomable signing:?
Masoud Juma is only attending trials because of his connections with Mwendwa. There are better strikers in Kenya.
Riding on