Gor Mahia held by Ulinzi stars
courtesy of the Nation
Gor Mahia warmed up for their Africa champions league first round encounter against AC Leopards with a scoreless draw against Ulinzi stars.
With a massive continental game looming next weekend, Gor’s head coach Frank Nuttall stuck to his usual first 11 against the physical Ulinzi side, who were also using the match to keep in shape with Kenyan Premier League matches put on hold by the High Court.
Both sides played cautiously in the first interval with neither side exhibiting the genuine thirst of winning the game. The first shot on goal came after 33 minutes when K’Ogalo’s in form forward Victor ‘Teargas’ Abondo forced a feeble shot from tight angle in the Ulinzi box that did not trouble the soldiers’ goalie Francis Ochieng’.
“It was a tough game against a tough opponent. It was a good build-up ahead of the weekend game and it will give the boys a chance to recover from the knocks as we have an entire week,” Gor coach Frank Nuttal said after the match. “All the teams we are playing (in the Champions’ League) were champions in their respective countries and so we expect a tough match (against AC Leopards).”
The Scot made a forced substitution in the 27th minute, pulling out midfield enforcer Khalid Aucho for Erick Ochieng when the former appeared to incur a hamstring injury.
He also pulled out vice-captain Musa Mohamed and defensive partner Dirkir Glay late in the second half, but deputy coach Frank Ouna said that it was just a precautionary measure. “We have very few players registered for the champions’ league and we do not want to lose any of them. It was a precaution,” he said.
I hope Aucho recover before next weekend. Team needs his experience.
I can’t wait for caf cl this weekend as I love continental football & be sure to catch the post game tactical analysis http://kpltactics.wordpress.com/
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I would advise Gor to watch themselves against vertical attacks from the break as Sub Saharan teams are generally not adept at passing the ball well. So play cautiously and practise scoring from set pieces
It would be worth the risk to start with aggressive pressing and grab the early lead but I’m not confident about our local game’s implementation & fitness concerning pressing structures.
It will be a truly tough game & it’s best if we don’t concede as we have not developed the steel for these types of fixtures. But don’t be too worried as our aim should be dominating CECAFA before ascending to the big leagues.
http://kpltactics.wordpress.com/
@kpltactics This commentary is very objective only that with all the dissapointments we have faced over the past few years, we tend to be cautious. However I would suggest that as fans we need to raise our confidence in our team. Of course it is always going to be costly. you sometimes loose games that you would rather not lose but that is football or any other game. Your suggestion that Gor should first work hard at making an impact in CECAFA is sport on. I agree with you. And as Coach Nuttal said the team has already made an impact locally it is time now to move outside the boarders and I think this is right. The frame of mind must be just right to do this. I think we are slowly but surely getting there even if it is not this time round. As the wise Said” Rome was not built in a day” Again I say that as we develop our depth, we will get there.
I also think that the choice of friendly with Ulinzi was good because the Congolese tend to be physical and it was just right that they get a feel of it from our men.
Which is better, starting at home or away? I sometimes think starting at home, get your win however slim then go there and put them under pressure, turn their supporters hostile and the stadium quiet for long periods and just why not??? sting them with just one painful goal and who knows??? More silence and you are through to next round. After the leopards is it where the money begins, and thats where we can bring in the likes of Sibomana,Karim and Kagere? Some one please guide me.
Why was the under 23 game taken to Machakos? FKF did not want any heckling in Nairobi. That is just for a time, they will be found somewhere.