Competition for places heats up
With a full house in training, coach Zdvarko Logarusic has indicated that the depth at each position will foster a healthy competition for places.
“We are currently serving a very intense training schedule and I am sure that the fitness levels of all my players will be in tip-top condition by the time we get into competitive matches. I have already made my players understand that a lot is expected of us in 2013 and that I shall only be picking the best to play,” Logarusic told Supersport.
At the goalkeeper position for example, there is the vastly experienced Ivo Mapunda, last years first choice Jerim “Jagoal” Onyango and newly signed Zachary Onyango who has impressed observers with his safe hands.
In central defence there is Ivan Anguyo, the hard working Donald Mosoti and new signing Israel Emuge. The versatile David Owino can also slot into central defence, full black or defensive midfield. At the fullback positions there is the vastly experienced duo of Nasio and Wekesa as well as Yusuf Juma. The latter was a highly touted signing from Thika United last year. However he was unable to secure regular playing time. He will be hard pressed to do so this year.
In midfield, Teddy Akumu appears the only player with no competition for a spot. Moses Otieno who was acquired from Tusker last year started brilliantly but has since faded. The return of Moses Odhiambo voted the best Kogalo midfielder last year will be welcomed. Ali Abondo is a highly tactical player preferred by Logarusic for his ability to play his role with textbook precision. The speedy Kevin Omondi, buoyed by his role in the CECAFA cup last month is a good candidate to finally earn a starting spot.
And in attack last years dynamite combination of Rama Salim and Dan Sserunkuma will be joined by new signings Abbey Nattey and Paul Kiongera. And there is the wildcard of Giovanni Rodriguez. If he works out he could be the architect of this Gor Mahia attack. This remains to be seen. Perhaps the one of the few concerns is the lack of youth which is something Gor Mahia is traditionally known for.
…what about Rasmus Jacobsen
I am curious about the very glaring omission of some well known names in the striking department by the writer of this article and that should give all the people concerned some food for thought. At one point some very hard decisions will have to be made unless these ‘established’ names abandon their lethargy and start improving.
May I suggest to the administrator of this blog post that considering the miest and fog surrounding the signing of our ‘ball boy’ perhaps he should try and be furnishing bloggers with updates on the ball boy’s progress with regard to fitness. That is if coach Logarusic has not jettisoned him already.
This season could turn out to be K14’s to cement his place in the starting 11. He can however, only do that if he has enough endurance and stay-power. K14 never lasts long because he has a higher Oxygen Cost of Ventilation to pay. Oxygen Cost of Ventilation is all about how much oxygen is consumed by the diaphragm and muscles of the rib cage while they keep someone breathing. This oxygen therefore does not reach the brain and other body tissues which participate actively in a sport. The reason why cigarette smocking does not go hand in hand with serious sports people is that it causes changes in the respiratory tract which force the resipratory muscles to work harder and as they work harder they consume more oxygen which could have been used by the brain and other skeletal muscles. Less oxygen therefore goes to these other active parts and that translates into accumulation of lactic acid. Lactic acid is known to be one biggest contributor to fatigue. Players cannot last the entire 90 minutes if they suffer fatigue. My advice to all those K’Ogalo stars is that their success as professional footballers depends so much on their performance but that performance can seriously be derailed by some habits or lifestyles that really are uncessesary and don’t add any value. The Lord be with you.
@ barefoot Bandit or is it “JANGILI MIGUU SUGU” ume nena osiepa. The post is very objective and analytical.
How i wish the GM Technical bench could offer you an opportunity as a consultant once in while to counsel and advise the young lads on issue’s pertaining to their health and how to progress in their sporting activities disruption free.Anyway that is a debatable topic that we leave for another day.
But my take is that this competition is healthy and i hope all will be well since unlike ODM nominations fiasco that was characterized with ***** ; with Logarusic there are no sacred cows to be favored.
BB@Post2, thats a cute talk straight advice to professionals.
I can only reinforce by summarising as ‘One word is enough for a wiseman’
2013 here we come.
Longarus should should stop criticizing his players in public. We still need a natural six to give cover for Akumu. By now we should be having atleast four up coming young players from school.
The squad looks good. I’ve not seen the Brazilian and Mohamed Musa being mentioned. If this Brazilian is not good why can’t you release him instead of waiting for him to do trial and error at K’ogalo?
The competition for places will add value to our team this season. We are also not mentioning the top striker for Harambee Stars. Our very own Lavatsa. We need to give him confidence and trust. This boy may just be what we need.
bring back BLACKBERRY!
And wapi LOVE-A-STAR.
In the midfield “executive community” please work on bring in 2 “Walia Antelopes”. The advantages are many and aside from the skills their will bring to the team:
1. They will find our country very welcoming since we already sizeable number of Ethiopians in our country and hence K’galo support base will grow.
2. Imagine the Ethiopian beauties as K’girlos supporters.
P.S
EC -What is the position on sponsorship and have you re-negotiated the stadium hire fees from the unreasonable 20%
@Ogango Trailer is it true that JA BRAZIL has been shown the door? . If so then this is a good riddance and I thank the technical Bench for not playing the PR strategy with EC. We can then sign a good striker to cover for the IMPOSTOR. Who posted the video on this blog site that this fake ” Ball boy” claimed to be his previous action on the pitch. Unbelievable!!
The JA BRAZIL melodrama is a perfect re-enactment of Nikolai Gogol’s Government Inspector.
we need another defensive midfielder to help akumu one with some technical ability and long rang passing. i thought we also needed a creative midfielder but not very necessarily since rama can play there in mungai join lavatsa or serenkuma up front.
RODRIGUEZ THE FAKE BRAZILIAN HAS FINALLY BEEN KICKED OUT…..WHAT A GOOD PIECE OF PR FROM THE EC ! KEEP IT UP….NEXT TIME BRING AN ARGENTINIAN