Gor Mahia vs Green Eagles preview
On Wednesday July 17-2019, Gor Mahia resume their quest to win the CECAFA club cup, a tournament they haven’t won in 34 years. They take on Green Eagles of Zambia.
Green Eagles are based in the town of Choma. They finished as runners up in the 2018-2019 Zambian Super League behind Zesco United. They will thus play in the 2019-2020 CAF champions league.
The Zambian upstarts don’t have much pedigree on paper. More often than not, they are found near the relegation zone of the Zambian league. 2019 was a surprise. Also of note is that not a single Green Eagles player was named to the Zambia CHAN squad that will play a qualifier against Botswana in August.
However they cannot be under-rated. They qualified for the quarter-finals after finishing second in group C with wins over Heegan of Somalia (2-0), Proline of Uganda (1-0) and a 0-1 loss to APR of Rwanda.
Captain Ceasar Hakaluba says his team is elated at qualifying for the knockout stage.
“We are happy because this was our target to get out of the group stage to qualify to the quarterfinals,” Hakaluba said to the Lusaka Times
He is optimistic about beating Kogalo.
“The chances are very high and anything can happen in football. What is important is how prepared you are.” he concluded.
One man Gor Mahia will have to watch very closely is Kennedy Musonda. He is among the top scorers in the tournament with three goals including a brace against Proline.
Musonda believes his side has the pedigree to match Kogalo.
“It will be a tough game as we will be playing one of the best East African clubs. But that does not put fear in us because we’re capable of winning. We are here to compete for the actual title. These are the kind of teams we will face in the Champions League, so it starts here,” he said to the Zambia Nation.
Musonda went on to underscore that team unity is what has been the key to their success thus far.
“It feels good to score as a striker. My success so far is due to team spirit. Our close bond is our biggest motivation and gives us the strength to face any hurdle in this race,” he said.
Their biggest strength appears to be their defense. In the Zambian league, they only conceded 10 goals. By comparison, Zesco, the champions, who have defensive stalwarts David Owino “Calabar” and Anthony Akumu in their ranks, conceded 20 goals.
Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay for his part has admitted that he knows nothing about the Zambian side.
“You know I don’t know them, I have never watched them maybe they are watching us from the matches we played, but I don’t know anything about them,” he said to goal.com
But Oktay knows that a match against a Zambian side will not be easy.
“It will not be easy because when you reach the quarter-final, it is not easy, because it is now a knockout stage and you must be focused because any defeat you are out.” he continued.
Oktay says that its not easy playing without the players who are missing due to injury or due to participation in the 2019 AFCON.
“It has been tough for us, playing minus our key players, there is no Shafik [Batambuze) here, there is no Philemon [Otieno], there is no Joash [Onyango] and there is no Francis Mustafa,” Oktay continued.
But he says the tournament is useful for the new signings who were recently signed from lower divisions.
“We got players from the second Division and it is beneficial for the young boys to get this experience, for me is for more fitness than anything else.”
Many Gor Mahia fans would see things differently as this is a trophy they would like to see the club lift after numerous attempts.
Also unavailable is Ernest Wendo who is suspended due to two yellow cards.
Oktay should justuse the players he has. There is no excuse of missing so and so. I hope he knows that Gor went to Sudan with 5 key players and rhe coach suspended but still came back with the same trophy. I hope someone close to him tells him so.
Anyway, of major importance is the Sportpesa issue with the govt. If it’s not resolved the Kenyan soccer will suffer and not just Gor and Ingwe since only Sportpesa is rhe major corporate that is involved in soccer locally
Oktay wants to win the CECAFA club championship. Though there are some facts on what he is saying, he is talking like that so as not to put too much pressure on the players and himself.
Oktay stop the lame “sina hii sina that” excuses. You are showing that you luck confidence. If the coach has no confidence then he has no business telling his players to win the war. The calibre of players in Gor are of same with those of the other teams. This is WHERE we need to see your prowess as a coach. Senegal hit Kenya using some of the most babyface players i’ve ever seen.
While there is no demand that you win the tournament, likewise there is no excuse why you should not, but please drop the “we just came to window-shop” attitude.
Another excuse i’m not getting is the “we are playing many matches”.
This brings the issue of the seemingly new role of CECAFA. So it’s now a seasons preparation tournament more than anything. But the blame probably goes to one N.Musonye who masters more on insults than marketing the tournament. President Kagame has done more than his fair share of supporting CECAFA and this should be lauded. Why isn’t this tournament on TV? or i’m I the only one who’s aerial is not facing Mecca.
KTN for example would rather air an English AllBright vs TooBright match than a KPL match. Kenya TV channels and newspapers are the major killers of Kenyan soccer with Nation group being the worst of all. It is such a shame that a Kenyan can identify himself with Liverpool rather than a local side.
Let this tournament be permanently based in Rwanda and let Rwandese TV channels own the rights. At least that will be a start.
CECAFA has withered during the years so while winning it might not mean much, beating some of the teams like Azam is still “juicy”.
I’m happy that Gor dropped several players who’s contribution seemed wanting. I fully support the new “boys” coming in… lets see what they have. I also hope that Gor gets some tough opposition in KPL. The club should also avoid some of these Sportpesa tournaments.
It’s unfortunate that upto date no Kenyan channel has come up to get the KPL TV rights.
And what happened to Bandari at Cecafa? Isn’t Mwalala’s excuse cabinet overflowing by now?
Gor has a new (or redeemed) reputation as a seasoned African campaigner. Most teams in Africa now “know” Gor so please, let that “weight” be carried along. It comes with the office.
Wachana na Oktay. Kazi ya coach pia ni kutumia saikologia. The new players have accomplished nothing yet. They must understand that they to work hard because they have big shoes to fill.
I once opined here that if it is falling during a match while other teammates toil, then there is no need for hiring a foreigner to do that. I am here ready to offer my services for free. It really beats me how serious coach can miss a perpetual “Faller”…..a player who has earned respect as always being “down to earth”. Joasj can be missed and he has earned his rest. Philemon……yes. Lakini hii piny ma odagi ruu!!!
Bfb, you say “down to earth” player haha…and he is not going anywhere!! Burundi fielded him once and didn’t try him again through their three matches at Afcon. So begs the question, how he is even in Gor?
On another issue, our home ground – the City Stadium – is to be name after Joe Kadenge as proposed by Baba to the Prezzo.
Just hope oktay is playing mindgames because Gor has no place for mediocrity at whichever level of competition. By calling new signings kids evokes serious questions: who was born a top striker? Is there adequate funds to buy his ‘ mature’ players? A commander cannot dispise his troupes on the battle field and still expect to conquer.
Which team does he want to coach? Brazil, Senegal.
Gor is always work in progress. He has an opportunity to contribute to the club as the others have done in the past.
What if Oktay came in 2010 when our players were straight from secondary school championships comprising of BBerry, Kitawi, Owiti Macheda, Nasio, Masika PPO, Akumu, Jakambare, Lavatsa, Makori amongst other greenhorns what would he have said. Upto now our winning teams have not served us with the type of entertaining football that was served to us weekly by this team.
@ Dan Original
That inexperienced team lost 5-0 to APR of Rwanda.
Two years later another inexperienced group was thrashed by Ferroviario of Mozambique.
You cannot compete in CAF champions league without experienced players.
31 minutes 1-1
GREEN EAGLES-2 GOR MAHIA-1
Gor Mahia knocked out
Sasa wasemi waseme yote, to me this team going to quarters was an achievement. Tueache mdoooomo, let’s support these boys, they are the ones we have for now.
Gor eliminated by Green eagle. Awuoro.
Green Eagles is always a compact side. Not easily beatable. It plays as a single unit and not easily dismantled. Underate them at your own peril.