Gor mahia host Thika United

Gor Mahia resume their 2015 league campaign when they host Thika United at the City stadium on Wednesday. Gor Mahia will be looking for a repeat of last month when they silenced Thika United coach Tim Bryett, beating his side 2-0 after he insinuated that referees were heavily influenced by Kogalo fans.

Assistance coach and club legend Bobby Ogolla is adamant that Kogalo must stay on attack in order to get the needed results.

“Our aim is always to attack, and my players have always kept the opponents at their place. Whenever we surge forward to attack, we create room for the defenders to catch their breath, and this means they are fresh and full of gas to protect our territory when invaded.”said Bobby legend to the Nation.

Though Gor Mahia won the first leg, Bobby knows that Thika United is always a tough nut to crack.

“It (Thika game) is a match we have always had trouble with, but we won in the first leg, and we want to do so tomorrow (Wednesday),” he said of the team that crushed their 2012 league title ambitions. The second leg is always tricky. The boys are from a recess, and from the training, they are coming back to their best form. If we can start well and score early goals, it will be good for us.” he continued.

Though Thika United started their league campaign very well and were at one point in second place, they have slumped of late. Gor Mahia will be hoping to win in order to restore the 12 point lead after second placed Sofapaka beat Chemelil on Tuesday.

Full Backs on song

The Rwandese duo of Karim Nizigiyimana and Abouba Sibomana who were both signed in January have more then exceeded expctations. Not only are they solid defensively, but they are a key attacking option for head coach Frank Nuttall. They time their runs forward really well and deliver excellent crosses. In fact against Chemelil, Olunga may have gotten all the press for scoring four goals, but Nizigiyimana and Sibomana were the engines that generated the goals.

“Our full backs have really helped our course this season. They have helped in opening the defences because they attack from wide areas. They also deliver quality crosses and the strikers have been sharp enough to convert,” said Bobby Ogolla.

The two give the Gor Mahia attack an added dimension because defences are already stretched thin trying to mark Kagere, Olunga and Abondo. They will be counted on once againon Wednesday.

Midfielders doing their part

When the fullbacks surge forward, the midfielders have to track back to cover the spaces they leave behind. Here is where Collins Okoth Gattuso and Khalid Aucho have been phenomenal. But Aucho is also capable of surging forward to add another dimension to the attack.

“Khalid came in the team, and effectively complimented ‘Gattuso’. The two have worked hand in hand in the mid-field, a department which determines how the team performs. The link between defense and attack at K’ogalo is the best, thanks to the two players. Khalid is a box to box player, a very important player in any team,” said former Gor Mahia player and coach Sammy Omollo to goal.com.

Collins Okoth for his part has been patrolling the area in front of the backline with the same no nonsense attitude he has applied since 2012. His efforts have seen him not be recalled to the national team, but was also handed the captains armband.

“Gattuso’ is focused on maintaining the balance of the team, he likes to sit back and protect the defense, and break the opponents attacks. Coach Frank Nuttall makes the team to play in way that opponents cannot easily penetrate. He is tactically good, a plus for Gor Mahia. That is why the build up for Sir’kal is currently the best in the league. No one can match it.” said Omollo of Gattuso.