Gor Mahia to arrive in Enugu on Friday
Additional reporting from the Nation
Gor Mahia completed a two-day training camp in Ghana in readiness for tomorrow’s Caf Africa Champions League first round, return leg contest against Nigeria’s Lobi Stars.
And while at it, the club chairman Ambrose Rachier has turned to spiritual inspiration as he prays for an aggregate win against the seasoned West African side.
The game will kick off at 4pm local time (2pm Kenyan time) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, some 500km from the country’s capital Abuja.
“We are in Ghana out of certain circumstances because the team missed the connecting flight from Accra to Abuja and the next available one is tomorrow (today). We have had to look for a good hotel and training ground in Accra,” explained Rachier.
The Kenyan delegation is expected in Abuja on Friday afternoon, before boarding a two-hour chartered flight to Enugu.
Coach Hassan Oktay and his charges won the first leg match 3-1 in Nairobi last Sunday and can thus afford a draw or even solitary goal loss in Enugu to win the match on aggregate and progress to the group stage of the continent’s premier club competition.
Progressing to the group stage of this competition will attract a Sh58 million cash prize for Gor Mahia, with the tournament winner set to pocket Sh250 million.
“I am confident heading into this match. It will be historic because no Kenyan team has progressed to the group stage since this tournament was rebranded. This task is like crossing the bridge to Canaan and I leave it in the hands of God because we have done everything possible to prepare the boys,” Rachier added.
Oktay will rely on Rwandan hit man Jacques Tuyisenge who scored the opening goal in the reverse fixture in Nairobi to lead the attack.
Midfielder Ernest Wendo will miss out through injury, but the technical team has the in-form Samuel Onyango, Humphrey Mieno, Philemon Otieno and Cercidy Okeyo as backup.
Captain Harun Shakava and goalie Boniface Oluoch are also set to play prominent roles.
Meanwhile Benue State Governor has approved the provision of free buses to convey Lobi Stars Football Club supporters to Enugu to cheer on the hosts.
“The decision of the Governor to mobilize massive support for our team serves to boost their morale so as to enable them to overturn the 3-1 defeat suffered in Kenya,” a statement on the club’s social media pages explained.
The Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu will lead the state delegation to Enugu for the match.
God bless Gor mahia fc
Waaah sisi kwisha
K’Ogalo the Holy Bible says that “be still and know that I am God”. This matter is now in God’s hands. It is now beyond man Let us give God a chance and you will see what He can do. Just trust in God for this one and you will surely see His glory unfold before I our eyes tomorrow.
I think 4 p.m. Enugu time is 6 p.m. E.A.S.T.
BEST WISHES TEAM KOGALLO.
LETS MAKE HISTORY TOMORROW…..I ALREADY HAVE MY CHAMPAGNE ON ICE WAITING TO POP THE BOTTLE, THE WHOLE NIGHT !
May God lead you to victory.
Good luck, no crowd can intimidate Gor players now.Remember the hostile Esperance crowd in Tunis and you conceded only one goal.
Colo what do you mean sisi Keisha? I believe we have a very good chance to progress to group stage through God’s will and he will be with us.Good luck Kogalo
Its been a very prayerful week on this blog but equally so , the lobi stars blog has been full of the same prayers , but the God I know and the one I serve helps those who use
their God given abilities to the best of their knowledge , something we did in the first leg and if it be so that we are better beqeauthed like it obviously shows , then it means that this 2nd leg is in our grasp since God has already done his part , so lets do our part and excuse God to focus on saving the world from Donald J . Trump because were Trump allowed to succeed then there would be no world , no football and sadly no Kogalo-ama namna gani my frens .
You have put it out eloquently, Teddy Sofaset. What I know is that Ogbunabali is the Nigerian god of thunder and Agwoturumbe and Anyika are his prophets. Back here we have only one true, evarlasting and faithful God of power and might and his prophets are Samuel, Elijah and Elisha and Jesus Christ is his only son. Let’s wait upon Him and He shall not leave K’Ogalo empty-handed.
True @BB, the Almighty Lord, Our God has no limitations and can focus on both GMFC and Donald Trump and all who call upon Him for any and every need. So let’s continue praying ceaselessly as we prepare meticulously.
As fans, GM members and as a country, ours is to wish you the best of luck. Remember to play as if you wwent to Nigeria 1 goal down. Pls remember that in the last season Enyimba went for second leg 3 down and recovered. AS Vita went to 2nd leg 3 down and lost the competition 3 : 4. . Gio boys. You are capable to the task.
The yardstick for measuring whether things are good or bad in camp kogalo is easily discernible by what greets you when you open this wall , if you are greeted by something like 63comments , then be instantly be warned that their is a problem , either the monthly salary has delayed or their is an unproven rumour that the team might not fly out because of lack of tickets etc etc, but if a story has run for more than 18hrs and the heading reads 10comments , then thank God coz it means things are alright , Why is that so ? , is it that we are so negatively mentally wired that bad news reflexibly triggers our reaction?, why is it that we so hate good news ? -anyway , I was just wondering as I await more good news after tomorrow’s game and ofcourse very few comments if that so happens.
This is the final call and here we come as Mighty Gor! No going back!
WISHING THE BOYS GOD’S PROTECTION AND A GREAT WIN TOMORROW!
In victory and glory, in defeat and agony K’Ogalo for ever!
Am confident For Magus has the capacity & experience to progress beyond thus stage, having stage a splendid & convincing performance in Nairobi.
“Ruth over kodu nyala chieng”
68 minutes Lobi 0 Gor 0
70 minutes Lobi 1 Gor 0
Let’s praying.We are trailing by a goal to nil with over 20 minutes left.
1 -0 now 70th minute. Pressure on us to defend or score a goal. May our God give us the victory to advance
71 min Lobi1 Gor0
Ooooooh my God,Lobi2 Gor 0.
Away goal otiekowa
My Christmas has just been spoiled.. Sad
congratulations team we have next time.
Oktay is fake !
It’s a disappointment but i still congratulate you, you gave it your best.
thank God! this game was not being shown live………we live to fight another day……why didnt they attack.