Rave reviews for Gor Mahia players
The Nation posted a performance review of Gor Mahia player performances on Saturday
The story of the day was the performance of Gor defender David Owino. Owino has been a substitute in coach Zdravko Logarusic’s side since the Croatian arrived. In fact, he was nearly shipped out of the club last December but he survived the chop.
On Saturday, Owino showed why he is one of the most talked about defenders in Kenyan football today. While Gor dictated the game and had the chances, the Egyptians also troubled the K’Ogalo defence and when they did so, Owino, fondly referred to by Gor fans as ‘stopper’, rose to the occasion.
Owino is now regular at the Harambee Stars yet at Gor, he has been used sparingly, most cases as a fullback. But with Ivan Anguyo having a bad game in Cairo and in local league encounters, Logarusic gambled and deployed Owino in the central defence and he did not disappoint.
Owino was the rock in the Gor defence and, while fans were unhappy with the barren draw, they appreciated Owino’s performance.
Owino won plaudits not only from Logarusic who hugged him after the game but also from Egyptian strikers who wanted to exchange jerseys with him, but the problem is, Kenyan clubs do not exchange jerseys. He was deservedly named man-of-the-match.
ENPPI were tactful, defended well and were calm on the ball. Gor’s Rama Salim, Dan Sserenkuma, Kevin Omondi and Ali Abondo all missed several chances. Salim, playing with a thigh injury, was instrumental in the initial attacks which, however, bore no fruits.
Innocent Mutiso was given his first chance and did not disappoint. He created two scoring chances and missed one which was saved by ENPPI goalkeeper Mohammed Ahled. At the end, Logarusic was happy with his boys. “I said we wouldn’t let Kenya down. We are out but with our heads held high,” he said.
Gor Mahia’s performers of the day:
Jerim Onyango: 7
He saved a point-blank shot from ENPPI’s Mohammed Shabah to keep Gor Mahia in the game and avoid a home loss. He was a leader on the pitch as captain and covered his goal area well.
Solomon Nasio: 6
Until he was ejected in a tactical substitution by coach Zdravko Logarusic, Nasio had done so well in the right flank. In a few occasions he was caught flat foot but recovered well.
Chris Wekesa: 6:
His a weak point in the team because he did not make runs upfront as he usually does when he plays in the Kenyan Premier League, but was strong, stopping the raids from the wings by the Egyptians.
Donald Mosoti: 7
Always reliable in the central defence. He used his height well, ensuring the ENPPI forwards known for using their aerial ability especially in set pieces did not have a chance.
Davin Owino: 9
If there was anything perfect in the world, we would give Owino a 10, but at 9, he was arguably the best player on the pitch. He did not take his eye off the ball.
The Egyptian coach went to shake his hand after the game, Zdravko Logarusic hugged him, probably for the first time. He deserved much more.
Anthony Akumu: 6
It was not his best of days in the midfield but Akumu, 20, is emerging as a great midfielder. He cut of the Egyptians in the midfield and was available in Gor’s attacks.
Joseph Njuguna: 7
Many times, he has not been playing for the entire 90 minutes, but on Saturday, he finished the game and was key in Gor Mahia’s midfield, especially after Akumu came off for Innocent Mutiso.
Ali Abondo: 4
Probably his worst game in a Gor Mahia jersey. He missed two scoring chances, his passes were poor and did not commit himself so much as the rest of the players.
Kevin Omondi: 7
Started off slowly but Omondi, probably one of the most gifted players at Gor, picked up and started dictating play cutting through the ENPPI defence and creating the chances.
Rama Salim: 7
Probably if he was fully fit, he would have given Gor Mahia a goal or two. He missed a great chance but his header was tipped away by the Egyptian keeper.
Dan Sserenkuma: 7
A brilliant game he had but did not have the cutting edge to score. Once of twice he could have scored but was slow in reaction. But was a thorn in the ENPPI’s defence.
One former speaker of the national assembly (one ofthe best Kenya has ever had, Ken Marende) recently observed that in Kenya, merit takes the back seat. The case of David Owino is therefore not surprising at all. Perhaps it calls for a commision of inquiry as to why one ofthe finest players in Gor Mahia today is always sidelined.
I echo Marendes words merit always take a back seat
Lets see more of Mutiso. This guy when he comes in as a second half substitute , will give tiring defenders all kinds of nightmares with his pace.
I always talk of talents in Gor Mahia specifically i talk about one Lavatsa & Owino Jasirati. I believe they will go places if they maintain discipline & aspects of social life that almost brought blackberry down. For kogalo and my God
David Owino ja shirati is my man and I always have confidence in him.He is a vasertile player and if I was logarusic and I must use Emuge in central defence then I will not put Owino in the bench but I will use him as defending midfielder just like Wanyama in celtic.Bcos as I saw him even overlapping shows that he can do well in that position of stopping attacking midfielders and K’ogalo will just be perfect.congrats Owino for giving Gor your very best performance.
I have to be honest with myself here. I didn’t see good football from GM, maybe our standards are still too low for African challenge. That doesn’t mean i don’t support the boys and the tech bench. Could be the 4 3 3 system is not working for our team and i guess the tech bench could be in consultations as to the way forward. I honestly wonder which numerous scoring chances did we waste coz i saw not more than three! Surely sure serious soul searching needs to be done rather than just fooling around with the flattery and excuses of scoring chances wasted and some injuries year in and out. Guys we don’t have substance let’s look for it!
@Joe Riaga you are very right. The pace and skill of Innocent Diana Kethi Mutiso Wiper is what would make a tiring defender commit a desparate tackle in the box and earn penulties. @Kassam you are spot on. We cannot sit on non-existent laurels and hope that things will suddenly and miraculously change for the better. It calls for hard work and investment of time among other resources. Sometimes I ask myself if coach Logarusic for the serious professional that he is, has a development plan (never mind even if it is a one year development plan) for Gor Mahia. I want to hope very hard that he has one and that it is in harmony with that of the ‘community’ (EC).
I disagree with some comments, i think Gor Mahia played far much better than any match in the last three seasons. My man Innocent is still a good player and like I have I have always sung, ths player deserves to to be in the 1st 11. I have watched him in Mathare and Harambee Stars and he has never disapointed.
Congrats our great team.
I agree with above comments; we played well