Tag: 2019 CECAFA club cup

Gor Mahia lose to Green Eagles 2-1

by admin

Gor Mahia are out of the 2019 CECAFA club cup. This after a shock 2-1 loss to Green Eagles of Zambia.

Additional reporting from the Nation

Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay Wednesday evening cut a frustrated figure after his team was bundled out of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Kagame Cup.

Despite scoring first, the Kenyan champions went on to lose 2-1 to a physically and technically superior Green Eagles side from Zambia.

“It (the result) has something to do with our fitness levels,” moaned Oktay.

“You know we are in pre-season. We only trained for a few days before coming here and we have had to play a game every two or three days.”

Oktay also blamed this defeat on the absence of his key players including Philemon Otieno and Francis Mustafa who have been excused from participating in this tournament after featuring at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Zambia.

Substitute Shadrack Mulungwe was the toast of this match. He scored a classic winning goal which aided the Zambian guest team proceed to the last four here at the Stade Kigali.

But both teams commenced this game in lacklustre form.

With two minutes played, a pass from Warren Kunda intended for his goalkeeper Sebastian Mwange was instead intercepted by Gor Mahia forward Nicholas Kipkirui.

The former Zoo Kericho striker reacted quickly, and lobbed a cheeky shot past the advancing Mwange and into the net for the opening goal of the game.

A minute earlier Gor’s Samuel Onyango had sent a speculative shot towards the Zambians goal, but it did not trouble Mwange.

Then it was Gor’s turn to get sloppy.

First, Wellington Ochieng gave away a foul in a dangerous area and Tapson Kaseba sent a free kick just off Gor keeper Boniface Oluoch’s right hand side.

Then, Hashim Sempala misjudged the ball in his own box and had his pocket picked by Amity Shamende.

Shamende’s initial goal bound shot was blocked by Charles Momanyi but the rebound landed at Kaseba’s feet. The attacker in turn released a first time left foot shot which easily beat a stranded Oluoch.

Eagles, who finished second behind Zesco in the just concluded Zambia league season, dominated thereafter.

Micheal Mwenga had another opportunity to hand his side the lead but blasted over with the goal at his mercy.

Boniface Sunzu then headed a Ceaser Hakaluba corner kick over the bar.

Mulungwe scored a brilliant solo goal after the restart.

The lanky forward chested a long range pass in the box with his back facing the goal. He thereafter made an acrobatic turn and sweetly struck a left foot shot into the net leaving defenders Harun Shakava and Charles Momanyi wondering what hit them.

There was still time for Mwange to pull a couple of saves from Kipkirui, Boniface Omondi and second half substitute Dickson Ambundo.

0

Gor Mahia edge KMKM 1-0

by admin

Gor Mahia concluded the group games of the 2019 CECAFA club cup with a 100% record. On Sunday they beat KMKM of Zanzibar 1-0. The late goal came from Eric Ombija.

Additional reporting from the Nation

or coach Hassan Oktay made a host of changes, perhaps with one eye on the quarter-finals which commence in Kigali on Wednesday.

First teamers Boniface Oluoch, Charles Momanyi, Kenneth Muguna, Haruna Shakava and Nicholas Kipkurui were all rested, with new signings David Mapigano, Elvis Ronack, Eluid Lokuwam and Tobias Otieno playing in their stead.

“We are playing very many games in a short spell and I have to refresh the squad to avoid injuries. We are hoping to win this tournament,” said Oktay.

Still, the Kenyan champions dominated against statistically the weakest team in the group.

With four minutes played, Dennis Oalo, the new signing from Nairobi Stima, had the ball in the net with a wonderful first touch off Samuel Onyango’s pass.

But Ugandan referee William Oloya ruled that wasn’t a goal, as the scorer had strayed in an offside position.

Three minutes later, Oalo missed a one-on-one chance against goalkeeper Nassor Abdalla with the later rushing off his line to clear the ball with his legs.

In between, the Zanzibar champions huffed and puffed. Said Mwinyi headed wide with only Mapigano to beat, while Ibrahim Khamis Khatib’s long range shot blazed well wide.

That was before Oloya sent Samir Yahya off on the stroke of half time for a rash challenge, the player’s second bookable offence.

Gor still lost conspired to lose chances the team would normally bury upon resumption. In the 51st minute, substitute Lawrence Juma blasted wide with a yawning net at his mercy.

Oktay would summon Shakava and Kipkurui midway through the second half and Gor piled more pressure as KMKM soaked it all in.

0

Gor Mahia blank AS Ports 2-0

by admin

Gor Mahia booked a place in the quarter-finals of the 2019 CECAFA club cup when they blanked AS Ports of Djibouti 2-0. The goals came from Boniface Omondi and Dennis Oalo.

Additional reporting from the Nation

Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay praised his new arsenal after watching them impress and storm the quarter-finals of the ongoing Cecafa Kagame Cup with a routine 2-0 victory over Djibouti’s AS Port here at the Umugunda stadium in Rubavu.

Kenyan clubs have always had it easy against opposition from Djibouti (remember Kariobangi Sharks’ 9-1 aggregate score on Artar Solar in the Confederation Cup last year?) and Gor seemed determined to maintain this advantage.

Boniface Omondi stepped off the bench to open the scoring for the second string K’Ogalo side in the 70th minute. New recruit Dennis Oalo thereafter scored his first ever goal in a Gor Mahia shirt, the second of the contest, with the final kick of this game. He managed the feat with a solo effort after practically worming through a forest of tired legs from the boys in blue.

Omondi meanwhile had reacted quickest to a cross into the danger area from fellow sub Kenneth Muguna. And as AS Port defenders stood there ball watching, he stretched his right foot and stabbed home the ball past an advancing Nasradin Abdi, who was guarding the opposing goal.

This result temporarily moves the Kenyan champions to the top of Group ‘D’ after garnering maximum points in two games. “I had to check my new signings today,” said Oktay when responding to a question on why he made nine changes in this match. “I like the way our opponents worked very hard. They give everything. I have asked my players to try and emulate that.”

Gor also beat DR Congo’s AS Maniema 2-1 on Monday. AS Port have three points, while Zanzibar’s Kikosi Maalum Cha Kuzuia Magendo (KMKM) and Maniema who are set to face off Wednesday evening, are yet to pick a point in this group.

Oktay host of changes were influenced by this match coming 48 hours after the clash versus Maniema. First choice keeper Boniface Oluoch was dropped to the bench and replaced by another new signing in the frame of David Mapigano. Similarly, first teamers including captain Harun Shakava who reportedly is unwell, Charles Momanyi, Tobias Otieno, Nicholas Kipkurui and Boniface Omondi were all benched.

This match was preceded by a minute of silence in honour of Kenyan great Joe Kadenge who passed on earlier this week. Then the physically imposing Kenyan team settled first and fast. In the opening minute, rookie Erick Ombija should have done better when he was played through on goal by Hashim Sempala. Instead, the lad took time to settle, required an extra touch in the box before sending a feeble shot that was well gathered.

Moments later, Dickson Ambundo blazed over the bar when perhaps some composure could have yielded better results. The pendulum would soon swing AS Port’s way as Mapigano, playing in his first game since joining Gor from Tanzania’s Singida United, parried away a dangerous free kick from Mouhamed Ahmed. Mapigano had to be at stand by again to thwart a one on one attack from Ghanaian danger man Gabriel Dadzie. “We played a better team. We cannot complain. The two goals we conceded came towards the end because my players were tired. Others were injured,” said AS Port coach Mouhamed Mereneh.

In other results, Rwandan champions Rayon Sport beat South Sudan’s Albatara 2-0 in Kigali, Uganda’s KCCA upset Tanzania’s Azam 1-0 in Huye as former African champions TP Mazembe defeated Tanzania’s KMC by a solitary goal.

0

Gor Mahia down AS Maniema 2-1

by admin
Lawrence Juma in action against Maniema

Gor Mahias campaign in the 2019 CECAFA Club cup started on a solid note on Monday evening when they downed AS Maniema of DR Congo 2 -1.

Maniema finished 4th in the 2018-2019 DR Congo League Super League with 57 points, well behind champions TP Mazembe who finished with 83 points.

The match was played in Rubavu which is a short distance from the home area of Maniema. As a result, a large crowd attended the match to support the Congolese side.

Additional reporting from the Nation

After a goalless opening quarter, Ochieng dispossessed the giant Abedi Masudi at the centre of the park in the 22nd minute. He then dribbled forward, weighed his options and fired a thunder bolt that flew past the despairing dive of keeper Bukasa Mangala.

Kenneth Muguna and Samuel Onyango lost clear chances to extend Gor’s lead, but Boniface Omondi made no mistake after the break.

He easily beat the offside trap, then produced a cheeky dummy that left Mangala lying on the turf, before slotting the ball into an empty net for K’Ogalo’s second.

In Oktay’s first competitive match of the season, new signing Tobias Otieno impressed in midfield with his tackling and range of passing skills.

Oktay also summoned other new signings Dennis Oalo and Ambundo Dickson as second half substitutes.

That’s before Likweya Jeremaya scored a consolation for Maniema from the penalty spot in the dying moments of the game.

0

2019 CECAFA club cup squad and Fixtures

by admin

Gor Mahia and Bandari have an opportunity to help Kenya football fans forget their mediocre performance at the 2019 AFCON cup, as they embark on the CECAFA club cup. It has been eleven years since a Kenyan team won the tournament and 34 years since Gor Mahia lifted this trophy.

Gor Mahia Squad

Boniface Oluoch, David Mapigano, Ronack Elvis, Charlse Momanyi, Haron Shakava, Joachim Oluoch , Geofrey Ochieng, Khavuchi Loyd, Ernest Wendo, Tobias Otieno, Kenneth Muguna, Lawrence Juma, Denis Oalo, Samuel Onyango, Nicholas Kipkirui, Erick Ombija, Eliud Lokuwom, Wellington Ochieng, Abdala Chaberi, Mustapha Francis, Dickson Ambundo.

Groups and Fixtures

0