Who are Aigle Noir CS ?
Gor Mahia have been paired against Burundian side Aigle Noir CS in the preliminary round of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League. The first leg is slated for the weekend of August 10.
Aigle Noir CS are a relatively new side on the Burundian scene. They have been rising steadily since they made their first appearance in the Burundian top tier in the 2015-2016 season. They gained a place in the top tier after buying a place in the league from from the previously existing Rusizi FC of Cibitoke which ceased operations.
They finished in 4th place in their first season, then 4th again, then 3rd place in the 2017-2018 season before winning for the first time in the 2018-2019 season. They finished 13 points ahead of second placed Musongati FC and 13 points ahead of traditional giants, Vital O.
This promises to be a tough outing for Gor Mahia. Burundian sides have been traditionally difficult. The Burundi national side acquitted themselves well at the recent AFCON. It turns out however that not a single player of Aigle Noir CS was selected to the national team, whereas Kenya’s Sofapaka had three Burundians selected.
Last year Gor Mahia escaped the preliminary round against Bullets of Malawi thanks to a dramatic penalty shootout in Blantyre. They were then eliminated by Lobi Stars of Nigeria.
Should Gor Mahia go past the Burundians, they will likely face USM Alger, their nemesis from 2017.
RS Berkane were also relatively new but gave Gor Mahia a thorough beating. Underrate at your own peril. Any team which has won premier league back in their home country should not be underrated.
For me I do not think that any team should be underrated these days. The game is speedily becoming global. Especially with the world of television viewing and the likes. The gaps are narrowing day by day. Secondly, I think that Gor is going through a period of transition in the name of building a team. This is inevitable for any good team to stay afloat. We are not known to play mediocre styles just for the sake of football. We love entertaining and adrenaline filled games. This is reflected in our own very committed fans. This is the flue that catches up with every player who commits to play for K’Ogalo. I am glad that players both gone, going and remaining talk of the same. Once players catch this and with the twelfth man, there should not be a worry. We just need to approach our opponents with a lot of respect. They are not here by fluke but by design and right. They won the league in their respective countries but so did we. I am so glad that the new players came in a time that the regional games were on and that they did pick up a few things. I think that the experience of the Continental and the regional exposure will play a big role in their next games. I am therefore confident that the current team is not going to be a push over. They are going to be real contenders at every stage just like the team has always shown.
Nice one. They need our support and the coaches belief and encouragement.
Hassan Oktay’s primary job ist o manage the circumstances and squad Gor Mahia’s got.
Let us all be POSITIVE, patient and understanding.
Give Oktay and the playing unit encouragement and support, together we can achieve a “Mahiaic” surprise victory to the lucrative group stages, then restrategize once we sail into the group stages, taking it one game at a time.
To early to worry about CAF, Have the salaries for June and july been paid ? Anyone with some info …
@Jakoyo ask Judith Nyangi….your acquintance
yaani you don’t want us to be optimistic even for a while?
Oh no Jakoyo this is a new season.i thought salaries issues was for last season
Days of Mahia miracles are gone. Ignore the black satans at your own peril. What should have been planned yesterday is still unplanned.Jasego umepigwa dafrau AMA ume join zico huko KCB and stay away from the stress? And heartache of cartels?
Gor Mahia underrated Zambia’s Green Eagles which ended up giving them a 2-1 beating at CECAFA club championship/Kagame cup.
10 of the KCCA players who won the CECAFA Cup were all from groomed within the team. How comes for us we still have this obsession with some ‘ripe’ from somewhere. Why not groom Oala ,Ombija, Kipkirui and the rest?
@Dan Original
We have been down that path before. It leads nowhere. People speak fondly of the group that Sianga groomed. But what did they ever win? Nothing.
And that is the group that was thrashed by Ferroviario of Mozambique.
Gor Mahia only started to win the league consistently when they signed established players.
We failed to secure players due to no cash in hand and No player wanting GM promises of you will be paid your signing bonus in future as broken promises and wailings of former and current players like Sempala are very loud. Wazito with their standardized cash in hand package therefore beat us to the chase. Cartels did us no favour by inflating the amounts to line their pockets and demanding kickbacks from potential signings. Be as it may and being alive I am still pursuing two foreign strikers as per Oktay’s wishes which cartels are keen to not see granted. I hope to atleast help Gor have quality to replace Kahata and Tuyisenge by bringing Duke Abuya and two foreigners so Help Me God…
A kalenjin politician recently complained as follows:
“Kwani huyu Cartel tunasikia kila wakati ni mnyama gani”
I also have the same question. How come in Kenya we always mention cartels without naming names. Is Rachier one of those cartels? If not then why isn’t he doing something about it?
Oh!! God save as from these cartels who are out to sabotage our mighty club, we pray that you may grant JASEGO enough strength and wisdom to acquire the best quality and proven foreign players to our club ,God let Jasego navigate all these through your wise counsel. It is all my prayer and trusting in your mighty name.JASEGO all will be well with you,you only need to act with speed of lightning.
Does anyone know the status of jagoal Frederick Odhiambo? Is he still in Gor? How come the Chan selectors do not seem think much about him?
A team need money to retain players. Even if Gor Mahia grooms Kipkirui, Ombija, Oalo etc. Without money to retain them, they will still leave. North African countries like Zamalek and Al Ahly has financial stability and does their best to retain their players.
Aduda has said that they have signed ojwang from Western stima and no room for any foreigner, I don’t think we will go far
what is this obsession with foreigners?
Gor Mahia has signed defender Maurice Ojwang from Western Stima.