Gor Mahia vs Al Malakia preview
Having qualified for the CECAFA club cup quarter-final by topping their group, Gor Mahia next take on Al Malakia of Sudan on Tuesday. It marks the first time in history that Gor Mahia will play a team from South Sudan in a competitive match.
On paper Gor Mahia should start as favourites. Al Malakia have scored only one win so far, a 1-0 win over Adama City of Ethiopia. They went on to lose 0-2 to Azam of Tanzania and 0-1 to KCCA of Uganda.
Founded in 1946, there continental pedigree is not much to write home about either. In the 2015 Africa champions league, they lost by a score of 0-5 to Kano Pillars of Nigeria. In the 2014 Confederations cup, they lost -15 to CARA of Brazzaville.
Gor Mahia for their part will be riding a wave of confidence having topped their group in brilliant fashion. And this was despite resting several players and rotating several players. And though Gor Mahia did not play up to their standards, they still beat Telecom 3-1.
“That was another good performance from my charges. I am impressed that we are winning matches even after rotating our squad. It was not an easy task but thank God we are now on ten points.
“Our ambition was to get past the group stages and I am glad that we have achieved that. I know that we shall have tough opponents in the quarter-finals but at this point any further achievement will be a bonus for us,” he said to the Nation.
Nuttall also noted that playing 3 games in 7 days in the heat and humidity of Dar es Salaam is not easy.
“Playing four games in seven days is not easy and that is why we chose to rest some players.
The marathon playing schedule has taken its toll on certain players. Khalid Aucho is not available for the Malakia game having sustained an injury. He will join Walusimbi on the sidelines.
Though Al Malakia have not been impressive, coach Nuttall will not be under-rating them and will field a full strength side.
“We have reached a crucial stage and no coach can gamble at this stage. I will have my regulars back,” the Scot. “It will be a tough quarter-final as our opponents must have done their homework and they also have the ambition of advancing to the semifinals,” added the coach.
Gor Mahia will need to play particular attention to Samuel Ssekamatte, captain David Dada and Peter Saddam Opera who have been impressive.
The winner of this match will play the winner of the contest between Al Ahly Shendi of Sudan and KCCA of Uganda.
Frank Nuttal and his crew have already achieved their initial target and anything extra is a bonus. that is how tactical coach Nuttal is and he does not want to promise HEAVEN while realistically GOR can be hounded out of tournament as from this stage on wards because “BALL INA DUNDA PANDE ZOTE MBILI”.
Bloggers let us relax and enjoy the next decisive matches and my belief is whoever will be fielded will not disappoint. IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN UN B10 RECORD UNTIL THE FINAL MATCH AND BRING THE CUP HOME OR THE
OPPOSITE. MIGHT HAPPEN AND BID GOOD BYE TO CECAFA UNTIL 2016.
@Ogango Trailor – you are spot on. I echo your sentiments
what time is the match?
May The Almighty God be at the throne to c Kogalo through to the semis, am really waiting to see Kogalo vs KCCA if both teams makes it. Good luck Gor Mahia fraternity, all of you. It will be tough but I believe in the team to go past Malakia.
count down.
two wins to get to the finals…………………..i.e. this one to go to semis, then semis
Let us join our Hands to pray for K’Ogalo so that GOD can do miracle as he did when we were playing Yanga,Red card came from nowhere. Let MIRACLE (HONO) be our working words, us we all know that ” GOR MAHONO K’OGALO MAJAKANYAMWA” “GOR MAHIA HIMSELF DID MIRACLS” Amen!.
Game inaanza 4.15 EAST AFRICAN TIME
Olunga is the biggest threat and all the teams have taken note. That is why Butoyi of Djibuti Telecom had instructions to police-mark him. It is a rudimentary tactic but it worked very effectively. I have a feeling that Malakia will apply the same, so Olunga, Nuttal, Sir Bobby Rateng’ wuod Ogolla and team should devise a strategy to come on top.
Our defence must protect our goalie. Boniface should be shielded from marauding and naughty Malakia forwards. The team should maintain a round the clock state of alert and infringements pointed out to the referee. May God show his grace so that we don’t get a Rwandese referee because they have shown some prejudice against us on two occasions during this tournament.
It is unfortunate that we shall miss Khalid Aucho and Walusimbi in the midfield. I have no problem with the other midfielders except for Victor Ali Abondo who must just come of age today. Victor Ali should take the free kicks and corner kicks, however, he must have an objective when taking the set pieces. When is the last time that we scored from a corner? Innocent Wafula is daring, but he should use that bravery to tear through the defence or give timely passes that can translate into goals. It is high time that we rained goals on our opponents.
The fact that Aucho is out is really worrying together with Walusumbu
No worry of both Aucho and Jajawalu though we will miss their services but Gattuso and Erico will take care of Midfield and if God is on our side who can dare us nobody!
@ The Bandit your worries have been taken care off and Coach Nuttal has released a full strength squad with Eric Ochieng replacing our regular Abondo while Aucho, Gattuso and Janja-Walu are also back.
..!!!!… NOW LET THEM BRING ON MALKIA……!!!!…..
Ooh La la…..!!!! ” 2ND BONUS AFTER GROUP STAGES”… NEXT…UNB10 ..LOL..!