Gor Mahia ready for Everton
Gor Mahia team manager Jolawi Obondo says the team is raring to go and cannot wait to play English premiership side Everton.
“It is not going to be easy, it will be tough to play them (Everton), but who says they are unbeatable? We want to beat them and prove that we have good talent here, it is going to be a good match. he said to goal.com
Everton were impressive this past season, finishing in 7th place out of 20 teams with 61 points (17 wins, 10 losses and 11 draws. They are coached by former Dutch international Ronald Koeman who is assisted by his twin brother Erwin Koeman, also a former international. Their squad includes such stars as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas.
Chairman Ambrose Rachier wants Everton to know that Gor Mahia will not be approaching the match as underdogs.
“We are excited to the there to play. It will be a great and historic event and we are looking forward to it. Please tell the world that Gor Mahia are not underdogs heading into that match” Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier told Nairobi News
Meddie Kagere, who won the golden boot award, is also looking forward to an opportunity to play Everton.
“Everyone has contributed to our success and the best thing is that we have managed to win the competition. It was not easy though; our focus will now be on Everton, it is a privilege to play them and learn from the best. We will continue doing our best in all competitions because we want to keep developing as a team.” he said to goal.com
On reports that he might be leaving for Yanga, Kagere told the Daily Nation that he would be open to such a move.
“For me what matters is my job. Wherever it calls I will go. I won’t mind playing in the Tanzanian league. It will however depend on whether Yanga and Gor Mahia agree on terms since I am still contracted to them.”
“I know their league starts in late August. Let’s see whatever comes whether I can join them at the start of the season or not,” stated Kagere.
Yanga Secretary General Charles Boniface Mkwasa, eager to appease fans after their poor performance, hinted that they might go shopping for a striker once the Tanzanian transfer window officially opens on Thursday.
“We are in the market shopping for various positions. A striker tops our list, a winger and a left full-back. We’ve managed to fill a few gaps as recommended by the coach but we shall reveal all businesses once the window opens.
“I personally watched Gor Mahia play, they had quality players. I wouldn’t narrow down on an individual at the moment,” the former Taifa Stars Head Coach told Nation Sport.
Among the players who left Gor Mahia to play in Tanzania includes Mungai Kiongera, Dan Sserunkuma, Rama Salim and Donald Mosoti.
Meanwhile new AFC coach Doran Marin has backtracked from his claims about being sure of beating Gor Mahia. He now says he was just finding ways to motivate his side.
“I knew it was going to be a tough call for us but I had to motivate my players and instill that winning mentality in them. This is a big team and I fail to understand what those before me were doing. Anyway it is my job to turn the fortunes around and I am sure we will make this team great again.” he said.
Where will this match be played? And when? Could the EC and TB consider the team that played in the final of the sportpesa super cup for that match as a reward and an appreciation? Just thinking
Match is 13th July @National Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam. Your point about having the team that played the final play Everton makes sense entirely. This was their baby and they should ba allowed to nurse it to maturity.
Team ochiek.
@ Jathur go ji I totally agree with you on the point save that all should be tested….
Let us get down to the immediate business. We have a crucial league match against a rejuvenated Sofapaka in Meru and that is what we should all train our sights on. Enough of clobbering Efusi. Efusi accepted and moved on and we too should do likewise. Talk of being ready for Everton’s game which is still one month away is rather premature to me.
Glory be to God for helping us make history on Sunday in many ways…we must now land n prepare well for the v.focused sofa…
Dorina Ja Romania listen well,many a coaches of international repute have come to Afc breathing fire and brimstones of beating Kogalo and making them great again but 6 months down the line they have all left with tails safely tucked you know where. As for Yanga i want to advise them to shop for that top striker, winger and left back very far from Gor Mahia, we are peers and they have absolutely no edge or flair or finances for that matter that can allow them to raid Kogalo for players.I would like to believe Gor’s stature is such that we should either make a killing from sale of a player to peers like Yanga or turn them outright down for that matter but not rush like Manchester City has come knocking with a bagful of goodies. How many times have Simba, Yanga and Azam laughed off claims of Gor being interested in signing their players?Well the feeling is mutual…Gor ”Commissionnairres” be warned we wont accept shady deals that don’t benefit the club in terms of selling at a profit and bringing in a much better player than the one leaving…Hatutaki Upuzi while we are an Everton Calibre Team
I see it differently, let’s not encourage camps in GMFC. That’s a recipe for disaster. Remember we still have the league and shield competition. Players who missed the Super Cup were forced to be away because of national team obligations. Let K’Ogalo always field,for each & every match, players based on merit.That’s the only way to increase competition and improve the club’s standards/performance.Even the coaches should be assessed based on targets/merit. We need to build a team that can reach the group stages in CAF tournaments and let’s not forget SP Super Cup was not even a real CECAFA test.
I have been saying and urging our officials to at least recognise our legends who made us proud. have been advocating for medical cover for our former great. and free passage for all our former players in our matches. Now Legend Peter Dawo is illing what is the club doing to assist him?
Nice one but it seems i. Gor things move only when fans make enough noise…is there a noise leader?
Osogo kagedo to ywak/wer matek…..kaoling to onindo. Someone interpret
The noise makeers have acquired several nams of late
-Goons
-Negative energy
-Drunkards
– Non Supporters
However such names don’t hold water coz they come from Kingdom partakers of the loot. As for Dawo, those whose hearts have been touched by angel Gabriel will contribute via the paybill no. The Gor officials led by Mugabe have no interest in such weighty matters. I only heard of Peter Dawo, Peter dawo na mpira onradio when I was growing up as a young boy, but I will definitely contribute towards his treatment.
I really hate it when a nondescript club like Yanga talk of recruiting our players like we dont even exist , but I guess that is the price we have to pay for being development dwarfs in terms of common sense organisation and structures.
To be spinning on the same spot for the last eight years and confusing it with movement is indeed a sad reminder to the lost opportunities we continue to forego bcoz of putting the bar to low , surely that a player can celebrate leaving Kogalo to go to Zesco….SAD
GRAHAM STUART TAKE ON EVERTON VS K’OGALO
Graham Stuart believes Everton will have a “test on their hands” when Ronald Koeman takes his squad to Dar es Salaam in July to play Gor Mahia.
The Club Ambassador was able to compile a mini scouting report on the Toffees’ opponents in Tanzania after being a special guest at the SportPesa Super Cup final on Sunday, which was won by the Kenyan champions.
Gor Mahia convincingly beat rivals AFC Leopards 3-0 at the Uhuru Stadium to earn the opportunity to play Everton in what will be a groundbreaking fixture in the East African nation on 13 July.
As part of the new partnership with SportPesa, Everton will be the first Premier League club to play a game in Tanzania.
“Gor Mahia played very well on Sunday,” said Stuart. “They edged the first half without scoring but once they got their first goal, they relaxed and played some wonderful football.
“As you get with African sides, they are fit, strong and have an appetite for the game. Their attitude was excellent.
“They are up to speed in terms of their season and with it being one of our first games of the summer, it could be a bit of a leveller. And there are the conditions as well – it’s very hot and sticky.
“The final was played on Astroturf and it will be a different venue in July when we play on a grass pitch [at the National Stadium], but they passed the ball around well and technically they’ve got some good players. They were well-organised and, first and foremost, they work really hard.”
The manner of Gor Mahia’s victory was even more impressive considering seven of their first-team regulars were missing having been called up international duty with Kenya.
“In some respects, you could say that was their second-string side that went out and beat the Leopards 3-0,” added Stuart. “They are going to be a really strong side.
“There is such an appetite for football over here in Tanzania and Kenya. We are looking forward to coming out and, one thing for sure, we’ve got a real test on our hands come July.”
Mr. Chairman and the entire EC please don’t allow the coach or any player to leave at this time….
ADIOS AMIGOS TIKI TAKA COACH…….
Gor Mahia coach Jose Marcelo Ferreira “Ze Maria” is on his way out of the 15-times Kenyan Premier League champions due to “frustrations”, according to sources.
The Brazilian, who succeeded Scotsman Frank Nuttall in March 2016, is said to be “upset” and “frustrated” that the club chairman Mr. Ambrose Rachier has been dodging him over his salary arrears and other monies the club owes him.
“He has been trying to reach Rachier in vein. They were supposed to meet after returning from Tanzania but the chairman has been unreachable,” a close source told Soka25east.com.
Ze Maria returned from leave to guide Gor in the Sunday final of the inaugural Sportpesa Super Cup, where they beat arch rivals AFC Leopards 3-0 to lift the cup in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
His deputy Zedekiah Otieno “Zico” had been in charge from the start of the tournament at the quarterfinal level.
Unfavorable welfare of players is another area where the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist is unhappy about.
According to one source, Ze Maria has already bought air ticket back home and could leave the country Thursday. Efforts by his physical trainer Sandro Fantoni to persuade him otherwise are said to have fallen on deaf ears.
Despite failing to defend the KPL title last year and going the whole season without lifting any title, Ze Maria has had a better start to the current season.
He has already bagged two trophies and the team is currently top of the table standings.
Ze Maria’s cellphone is off and efforts to reach club officials for comments have been futile.
Truth is Zico won the cup.
Now what is this again really?Can’t we be happy even for a eek after triumphing in Tz before sad news follow in earnest about sponsorship money doing everything else in someone’s private company instead of paying the coach and players their Dues?Why do we even have Sportpesa sponsorship really if we cant pay the coach and take care of players welfare?
That is how he operates and those are his designs that he has over trhe years polished with ego and qualified with his gigh education to the chagrin of Kogallo fans. It took one Lens Julians years to remodel a winning outfit. Thanks to legends like Zack Mbori. With him year in year out he ships in one coach and acrimoniously ejects them back with shame. I fault the coaches on one hand, they don’t study the kind of man they are dealing with to make adequate contractual agreements, he outwits them with ease of legendary Kogallo midfielders iof the golden era.-ZAngi, Zamalek, Fundi, Engine, – He has refined his movements as best as he can to be called ‘wuon pap’. Who will stop him? If not FKF, then CAF or FIFA.
How is this club being run? If these rumors are real, then there is a very big problem with the Excom.
i was really a fan of Gatuso in kogalo but nontheles let me just join the ec in wishing him the best of lack