Gor Mahia face APR in do or die
After a disastrous start that has seen them lose their first two matches. Gor Mahia are now facing a must-win situation against APR of Rwanda. A loss to APR will effectively end Gor Mahia’s campaign.
It will be an uphill task especially considering that APR will be playing at home. against a team that eliminated Gor Mahia from the CAF cup in 2009 and also eliminated then Kenya champions Tusker from the Africa Champions league in 2011.
In 2009 A young George Odhiambo “Blackberry” was in the squad along with Zablon Otieno “Pro” , Julius Owino, Dan Odhiambo, Tonny Onyango, Elisha Ochieno, Peter Opiyo, Ibrahim Kitawi and Eric Masika. Almost all the players then were between 19 and 21. At the time, APR had a number of Congolese players like Fuadi Ndayisenga who scored two as well as Moses Odhiambo “Dube” who was at the centre of their midfield.
Blackberry is the only survivor from 2009 and will be eager to earn a measure of revenge to exorcise the demons of that loss. That is if he is fielded. The off colour striker did not play against Atletico on Monday. Gor Mahia fans will also be hoping for a win not just for revenge but to get the the campaign back on track.
Musonye ebcourages Gor Mahia
CECAFA chairman Nicholas Musonye has challenged Gor Mahia to emulate the glorious squads that won the CECAFA club cup in 1980, 81 and 85. At the time, Musonye was a sports journalist firstly with the Standard then the Weekly review, a magazine that used to cover Kenya Kenyan football better than any other publication.
“I have travelled with you (Gor Mahia) across Africa since 1981. I covered many of your matches during my time as a journalist and I know what you are capable of. I want to urge you to show your true character by winning the two matches,” Musonye said to the Nation.
Calling the players by their names, the Cecafa boss particularly asked the team skipper Jerim Onyango to show leadership on the pitch.
“Jerim, you are the captain. I want to see your leadership. You have to do it. Owino (David) I want to see goals and Kizito (Geoffrey) I want to see what you are capable of doing,” he said before handing the players a cash token of $ 1,000 (Sh87,000).
An upbeat Jerim, who has so far been compact between the goal posts said they are highly motivated and ready for the match.
“We are okay. We have no issues troubling us and we are focused on the match. We believe all is not lost and we can still progress to the quarters and go all the way to lift the title,” Onyango told Daily Nation Sport.
Gor Mahia need plenty of improvement
Gor Mahia’s defence which looked shakey against KCCA will need to improve dramatically to contain the APR trio of APR’s threesome of Jean-Claude Iranzi, Jean Baptista and Michel Ndahinduka which has proven to be dangerous. But they will have to defend without full back Walusimbi who is still out sick. And they will have to be sharper than they were against Atletico when they missed chance after chance.
Group B Standings
P W D L GF GA GD P
APR 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 6
KCCA 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6
Telecom 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
Atletico 3 1 0 2 1 2 -1 3
Gor Mahia 2 0 0 2 1 3 -2 0
Starting Line-Up
Sserunkuma has shockingly been benched for Blackberry
Starting Xi:1. Fredrick Onyango. 5. Musa Mohammed. 18. Harun Shakava. 15. David Owino. 2. Godfrey Walusimbi. 3. Baba Kizito. 17. Eric Ochieng. 6. Collins Okoth. 11. George Odhiambo . 9. Timothy Otieno. 19. Daniel Onyango.
Subs: 12. David Juma. 20. Joseph Kariuki. 13. Bruno Charles. 8. Dan Sserunkuma. 7. Simon Mburu. 16. Arthur Ssemazzi. 14. Kennedy Opiyo
Lets have Kevin Oluoch play in place of Walusimbi the guy is good in winning balls and does not overlap too much,serekuma can play no 8 and blackberry be handed no 9 Otieno can do better at no 7 he has a good speed.i watch the game against Atletico in the second half the goal was curved from the left.prior to that two attempts were from similar position.i wish you guys all the best.
who is Dan walusimbi?
Lets stay focuss or Mr.Williamson can employ the defensive tactict by introducing,ochieng,kizito,mburu as deffensive midfield,shakava,Owino,Bruno and Kevin at the deffence,serrekuma,ssemanzi and otieno to be in the striking line.and balls be suplied to them
I like the way we are thinking tactics……but where are the calibre of players ?
Jakoyo remember its the dog who waggs the tail na mchngua jembe so mkulima I believe strongly in our players.its a matter of using a team that had played together and won a game rather than trying new team.
Thanks Musonye, you are a true Kenyan soccer fan. That is a great gesture against many who have lost hope. Only those who don’t quit finish the race. There is still hope my beloved team Kogalo. May God see you through.
all the best boys, you have what it takes. go and make me proud
Personally i think there is nothing much to get from these two remaining matches!!!!
Thats my thinking too.We will exit the competition just like tusker did in 2012,they didnt win even a single game.
I honestly feel we were eliminated the day we lost our second match.Even if we win today,we must pray mathematically so that other results go our way.I know in a game of football,this is very possible,but we shouldn’t bury our heads in the sand.We are yet to meet the mighty APR;and for God’s sake if our previous are anything to go by, then we should brace ourselves for torrid moments this evening when we play APR.
As I said before,and please, guys this is my honest opinion,let the boyz use the the CECAFA Tournament to keep themselves fit enough to compete in the final leg of the KPL league.
We will welcome you back and continue to support you wholeheartedly in defending the KPL title……
Whether we win today or lose, Mimi ni Ja-Kogalo daima. Na sote tuwe Jo-Kogalo daima; a loss and an early exit notwithstanding.
All the best Guys!!!!!!!!
Good Spirit @Barefoot Bandit. I can only wish the boys the best of luck.
Worried about nothing. Gor Kogallo has been, is and ever shall be.
For God and my beloved club – Kogallo.
With whatever result,mimi nitasimama na team KOGALO,some of us now have a platform where they can criticize everything or anything i wish they were there some years back before the now demon(Rachier)came on board,it took some of us almost 4 months to convince these guy to come to our rescue but since GOR is GOR they will never appreciate,u do wonders today you are praised like jehova wanyonyi u blunder once u are like DAVID MOYES
All the best K’Ogallo……..
just as i said kuna improvement now weav seen how we av played saa hii tutakua mahali
It has just ended 2all but boys have really fought a good fight