Williamson jittery over new signings
courtesy of capitalfm.co.ke
NAIROBI, Kenya, February 3 – Gor Mahia coach Bobby Williamson, has expressed concerns over his new charges, saying they have to learn quickly what it takes to be a K’Ogalo player as they prepare for this weekend’s CAF Champions League clash against Gabonese side US Bitam in Nairobi.
The Scottish is troubled they have not played competitive matches for two months to enable his newcomers blend with the rest, adding they will face clubs that are currently participating in their domestic leagues.
“Gor players know the standards of the club and I’m happy to have George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo and Rama Salim back who understand what is expected of them.
“We have played few build up matches but it’s not competitive for a team that is preparing for continental matches.
“I’m concerned the Champions League match is here with us where we are expected to perform well, but I’m afraid most teams we will meet are currently playing in their leagues and that is our disadvantage,” the former Uganda Cranes tactician expressed.
The league champions played their first competitive match on Sunday in the Kenya Power Charity Cup, where they lost 3-1 to Sofapaka in the semifinals and Williamson said he will be working on the weakness he noticed during the one day tournament.
The Green Army flocked into Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday with a lot of expectations after K’Ogalo signed experienced players with the likes of Ugandan internationals Godfrey Walusimbi and Geoffrey kizito, midfielder Shaban Kenga and forwards Odhiambo and Salim on show.
This did not go according to plan as they witnessed their club humbled by Batoto ba Mungu, leaving them with unanswerable questions if their passionate team is ready for US Bitam.
The players did not combine well with Patrick Oboya and Dan Sserunkuma failing to spark upfront despite enjoying most of last season together, something that the coach said he has to go back to the drawing board before Saturday’s tie.
“I’m disappointed the players never put to practice what we teach them but hopefully they learn quickly. I have quality players I’m just working on the final pass and anticipate we will be ready for the match,” he added.
Gor have been at the continental competition for the past three previous seasons, participating in the Confederations Cup where they bowed out of the tournament at the preliminary round, before reaching the first round last year.
They will be working hard to go past the first stage where they will meet Tunisian giants Esperance.
LET US CHANGE OUR FOOTBALL CALENDAR TO B IN LINE WITH THE REST OF THE LEAGUES
BW this is your unfinished business, the players are good, really good but the problem could be lack of match fitness. Players like Walusimbi, George Odhiambo, Rama, Kenga and Sserunkuma will lift up the team. I believe the others will fall in line soon, the problem is the short time before the crucial tie against Bitam this weekend. BUT NO WORRY, THEY WILL DO IT.
@jathr gi ji if we can get people like u we can do wonders its good to encourage the team but not criticize,this will make even the players appreciate us n put more effort in the field,sometime we win sometime we draw and at worst we loose but doesn’t mean we cant pick from there n move on to win our next match,lets learn to appreciate everything coz watu wengine pia wamekuja kucheza sio kusimama tuwafunge
Sasa wachezaji wameshikwa na majitters na mitetemeko! Mungu saidia
Ingo how did Efusi fair, no soccer to write home about.Any way I leave it to you, but you should be concentrating on your home which is burning. Mapinduzi, NO GOAL; Charity cup, NO GOAL.
Jathur gi ji wachana Ingoko whatever its name is coz we dont know whether yeye ni mwanamke ama mwanaume,av happened to check the efusi site actually there is nothing there in that site,so the guy must just come to our site this is where he can get a very interactive n very constructive comment that he can go tell there EC to implement u forget they always copy all the things we do.
Change calendar
It has little to do with the calendar, but rather planning.
After winning the league we concentrated on partying & thereafter the elections.
Competitive build ups remember the Mapinduzi Cup which was overlooked in preferance for Supa Loaf friendlies.
Am happy with BW’s ambition but am not judging him by his performance in the CAF Cup, not this year.
However CECAFA,TPL na GoTv ni yetu and we don’t want excuses. Get your act together Head coach we don’t want lamentations after the horse has bolted. Hiyo hatutakubali.
Also know that the best antidote to Hooliganism at GM is to win, win,win especially now that there are hints of a beautiful style of soccer.
I still blv in what BW is saying bt plz headcoach make the players ready before the season kicks off coz we wll nt accept losing league matches in the name of players not being fit.I hv to mention that the type of football u shwd us against Sofapaka is what we want jst tell the players to be ruthless infront of goal and we wll be gud to go
I believe the coach is right. I have seen Walusimbi, Kenga, Obwoge and others at the top of their game and these guys are good. Unfortunately we cannot have had better preps for a team that had literally been playing the who season. The body needs to rest and the football mind too. Even employees take time off. During Logas time they would be given a week off within the season. This makes you crave for the game. On Mapinduzi I think it’s a tournament which we were not prepared to go to, What with transfer sagas and elections. We would have come back even more demoralized than @Ingo’s team.
I like BW’s metality and now it’s for us fans to also believe. I believe we are still work in Progress for the CAF tournament. Even the teams that have won it prepared for years before they became pereniall contenders. TP Mazembe with treasure of gold and other minerals to finance them also struggles in the competition though that should not be an excuse for us to perform poorly. Let go there and give our best. On Sunday we gave our best but it was not good enough and that is soccer for you.The best team does not always necessarily win, that is according to Mourinho
The current Gor Mahia squad is one of the best ever assembled in a long time and for this, hats off to the Tech. Bench, all the scouts and the EC. Gor Mahia’s weakest point (and this I should apportion to Scotsman Bobby Williamson) is the apparent lack of intelligence gathering on our opponents before any serious match. Statistics don’t lie. There are a number of games in which our opponents have outclassed us simply because we seemed not to know what to expect and what we were up against. Cases in point: vs Efusi in the memorable 2-2 draw; vs KCB in the humiliating 2-0 loss and the latest against Sofapaka in the Charity Cup. Winning a match requires good preparation which includes gathering useful tips about the opponent and the club should invest seriously in this ‘department’. If this is done then I am sure no opponent will ever be allowed to go ‘Scot-free’ again.
Bloggers I implore all of us to accept to live with Ingo. This guy is lonely in the ‘Den’ and that’s why he feels very much at home among his in-laws in this site. Personally I don’t mind him at all even when he tries to ‘ingoneer’ discontent against our Bobby Williamson. Omwami Ingo I believe we have heard your sentiments, however, I want to assure you that all is well in Gor Mahia and it is just a matter of time before our opponents start scratching the heads on how to stop this ruthless machine. This may not be good news to you. Pole; lakini it is the hard fact. Very soon Efusi and the likes will not get away ‘Scot-free’ because the Scotsman wont allow it.
I still reiterate my appeal to EC to dedicate the trophy we won last season to God in any church that worships Him in truth and in spirit. It is important and it is never too late with the Almighty God. Remember we took our celebrations to all sorts of places except to God’s house. That was a grievous and serious omission.
The team is good. I shall not be cowed by a one day team event. The team will blend ultimately. I watched the sports discussion on DSTV at 7pm and the other one at 8pm and it seems most of the panelist are writing us off with the exception of Gilbert Selebwa which to me is a good thing. I love what the coach said that some players dont seem to understand what it means to play in Gor Mahia Jersey. I want to tell them it is a matter of life and death literally speaking.
Untill they get to understand this it will always be “ni hali ya game” Some fans will not stomach this for sure. If the players indeed want more then they must prove it on the field.
I can pray that God lifts us through these turbulent short period to the glory of his name.
@BB you’ve made an interesting observation on intelligence gathering.
I have observed & made a note sometimes back, that GM always, and I repeat ALWAYS conducts ALL ITS TRAINING SESSIONS IN THE OPEN AT CITY STADIUM.
This means that opponents especially wily coaches send spies to anticipate our tactics and counter them.
Could this be why opponents always give us a harder time than anticipated?
Just thinking aloud.
12.1. 2014 AC Bongoville 3:1 US Bitam
08.1. 2014 Missile FC 3:1 US Bitam
04.1. 2014 US Bitam 0:1 AS Pélican
23.12.2013 US Bitam 0:0 Mangasport
29.6. 2013 US Bitam 2:2 CF Mounana
19.6. 2013 AS Pélican 2:3 US Bitam
12.6. 2013 US Bitam 0:1 Sogéa FC
09.6. 2013 Nguen Asuku FC 0:2 US Bitam
28.4. 2013 US Bitam 1:0 Sapins
In the year 2014 US BITAM IS YET TO WIN A GAME.GINIWASELOYO.
Guys let our fans stop panicking. We have a great squad in big depth. The team just need encouragement and motivation to perform well. We all need to rally behind the team for better results.
I agree with Barefoot that since we won the TPL trophy, we have not dedicated it to the Almighty God. We have to humble ourselves and return all the glory and honour to God. God was ahead of the team in terms of winning the TPL trophy.
The mboys were good. I liked the running and the passes too. Blackbery was on top.
What i noticed is some concentration laps and is what cost us. If the coach can work on this then i can see this team to do wonders.
Coach BB lacks intelligence. This dude talks yes on everything . If BB remains in GM past April, then I give up soccer.