Gor Mahia take aim at Thika United

Gor Mahia FC appear to be back on track. After a strong start in the league, they were briefly derailed but have won the last two games in convincing fashion. It is against this backdrop that they take on Thika United in the KPL Top 8. The last match between the two teams ended in a scoreless draw because Thika simply packed the bus then employed time wasting tactics. It is therefore ironic that coach John Kamau thinks his tactics are superior.

Rama Salim has been a key component of Gor Mahia’s rejuvenation. It appears his pertanership with Ssserunkuma which wreaked havoc in KPL teams in 2012 is making a comeback. They could make life very difficult for Thika United.

Gor’s head coach Bobby Williamson has expressed his delight at the duo. “It is pleasing to see them (Rama and Sserunkuma) play like they did in Nakuru. They seem to know each other’s movements very well and the understanding is pivotal to the team’s plans moving forward,” he said to the Nation.

Alternatively, coach Williamson could opt to rest the duo and save them for the KPL. After all Gor Mahia has players like George Odhiambo who could use this opportunity to regain his form of old along with Patrick Oboya and Jared Obwoge who needs a chance to prove himself.

Despite winning the last two games, there have been momemnts of laxity that have seen Gor Mahia concede easy goals. Williamson stressed the need for concentration. “We have had two great games in the league which gave us wins. We have to give concentration and one hundred percent if we are to move to the next stage.” he said.

Match in Machakos instead of Kisumu

The match will be played in Machakos on Sunday. It had earlier been slated as the grand opening of the newly refurbished  stadium in Kisumu but the Kisumu county government failed to meet KPL demands with regards to flying the players to Kisumu.

There is also the matter of a pile of rubbish outside the stadium which KPL has said must be removed before any KPL matches can be played there. Gor Mahia are due to play Chemelil in a few weeks and Kisumu based fans are hoping that match can be played in Kisumu instead of the usual Afraha.

Kisumu missed an opportunity to host the CECAFA cup, the top 8 and may now miss an opportunity to host KPL matches. “We are looking to host some matches at the venue soon. We are already in talks with KPL to have some matches played at the stadium,” Ranguma told Daily Nation Sport.

Fans in Kisumu also decried the inability to put up new stands. “We don’t understand if the stadium was renovated to be closed or to be used. Work on the terraces, washrooms and other facilities is still incomplete,” said Dismas Ogola of the Winam branch to the Nation.

He further lamented that the County, through its sports department, had  allowed illegally erection of structures within the stadium’s precincts.

“For this stadium to be considered of international standards, it must have all the required facilities  in place. Also the parcels of land that have been grabbed must be recovered,” Ogola said.

 
Starting XI: 16. David Juma (GK), 5. Musa Mohammed, 15. David Owino (Cpt), 18. Haron Shakava, 2. Godfrey Walusimbi, 3. Baba Kizito, 17. Eric Ochieng, 7. Timonah Wanyonyi, 11. Innocent Mutiso, 21. Rama Salim, 8. Dan Serunkuma.

Substitutes: 1. Fredrick Onyango (GK) 4. Kevin Oluoch, 25. George Odhiambo, 24. Israel Emuge, 12. Jared Obwoge, 6. Anthony Akumu 9. Shaban Kenga.