Oktay: We shall qualify
Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay has sought to allay the fears of fans who were less than happy with the performance on Sunday
Additional reporting from the Nation
“Keep cam, we shall qualify.”
This is Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay message to nervous K’Ogalo fans ahead of their Caf Confederation Cup playoff reverse fixture against Cameroon’s New Stars de Douala at Omnisports Stadium in Limbe, Cameroon next Sunday.
The Kenyan champions carry a slim and tricky 2-1 lead they registered in the first leg tie played at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Sunday afternoon. They need to avoid a defeat or force a scoring draw to book a slot in the group stage whose participants pocket Sh27 million.
A section of home supporters booed the Turkish-Cypriot’s tactical substitutions minutes after the Cameroonians had cancelled Gor Mahia’s early lead. The 42-year-old tactician withdrew speedy winger Boniface Omondi, who had been a constant threat, for Samuel Onyango on 76 minutes, before pulling out a jaded Francis Mustafa for Erisa Ssekisambu and finally brought in George “Blackberry” Odhiambo for Francis Kahata.
The changes infuriated the fans who openly booed the coach and carried on the chatter on various social media platforms questioning his tactical cognizance.
“Its good pressure from fans but sometimes you know we’ve to control what we see,” Oktay defended his changes.
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“We won, it’s a good feeling, we shall fix the defence because we conceded from the set piece again.”
Oktay was impressed by Charles Momanyi and Joachim Oluoch’s rare partnership at the back in the absence of regulars Harun Shakava and Joash Onyango.
The latter two are serving suspension from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) pending their case at the Caf Disciplinary board.
“I tell you what, we shall qualify. I believe we are good enough and strong to win it. No one should worry, we shall go there and dominate the game as well, this team (New Stars) plays well away than at home,” he assured.
Rwandese forward Jacques Tuyisenge, who grabbed the winner with three minutes left, has echoed the coach’s remarks urging fans to support them.
“We must reach the group stage,” said the 27-year-old. “They scored an away goal which gives them confidence but we shall dismantle their plans by scoring early to put them under more pressure.”
K’Ogalo, who host Mount Kenya United in a rescheduled league match on Wednesday at Kasarani stadium, plan to jet off to the West African nation on Friday.
I am particularly calm and hopeful and in prayer for team Kogalo. Hopefully Cameroonians are more accommodating than Nigerians
Be serious
We need prayers for the team and hope that all goes well. With the departure of Mieno we hope Muguna, Lawrence and the rest shall now have rhe chance to prove their worth
https://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/exclusive-saint-george-seal-the-signing-of-humphrey-mieno/1o05krtkfdbyf1iqnufxihzsgg
BREAKING… CAF fine Gor KES 1million and Shakava and Joash banned for 3 games..
nonsense..let zico manage the return leg. In zico, we trust
Sad news indeed. When it first came into the open about what transpired in Nigeria, this platform went quiet. The truth is that GM fans have transformed and come to realize that this is just a game. The same is expected of EC, Secretariat and players if we truly value GM brand. Discipline must be upheld by all. On Sunday I saw AS Vita being mistreated in the same fashion in front of cameras but they were cool. This could be due to their experience in this stage. More than any other time since becoming a GM fan have I seen the number of strikes,go- slows and sit- ins like the last one year Gor Mahia is an employer and must carry itself with the decorum of the most flowered team in this region and likewise players/workers must carry the burden of being in GM uniform. Some indiscipline has been occasionally observed in our local matches but they go unpunished. But outside our boarders, referee is the boss. The rule has always been,never fight at place of work no matter the provocation. .
it is only a prayer that may save us in the second leg,the coach should prepare for the match before Sunday.let us post messages of goodwill to the playing unit and technical bench
let all join hand in prayer for the entire team for we are at a cross road .we only need encouragement to the team and technical bench.with the coach’s words,I stand with him 100%
Lobi Stars also fined $15k, so it seems CAF’s a fair arbiter. GM can also appeal if it has evidence from any source. I did question Oktay’s credentials, but so long as players’ transfers are forced by EC then the blame for misfiring players is shared.
Very unfair decision. Pitch invasion and you escape with only that?
https://www.independent.ng/caf-fines-lobi-stars-15000-suspends-player/amp/
Oduor12 Caf Disciplinary Board is chaired by a South African called Raymond Hack and the unfair biased Ref who was bribed by Samuel Ortom the Benue state Governor is also South African so which fairness are you talking about. How can Pitch Invasion and Aggression towards opposing team members like Keeper John Lawrence slapping Shakava be curtailed by a meagre fine without banning fans for some games?Caf is very unfair to say the least. Finally Coach Oktay is super fine introducing fluid joga bonito world class soccer in GM that will gain traction very soon. On credentials he holds the highest quaification there is so what else was required. Our players are all good as proven by any who gets a chance shines more than the regular meaning we have depth and a strong team that will take us far in Caf my brother…Just pray and support Coach unreservedly
The S.African angle is a mere coincidence. What matters is if anyone has evidence to sustain a GM appeal why sit on it! APPEAL FEE IS ONLY KES.200k. What the Oktay experiment has as paper credentials is equally lacking in practical (success)credentials.