Gor Mahia was unable to overcome the absence of 5 key players and the coach as they went down 0-2 to RS Berkane of Morocco at Kasarani on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional reporting from the Nation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gor Mahia are left with one tall mountain to climb following \nSunday’s painful 2-0 loss to Moroccan side RS Berkane in their Caf \nConfederation Cup quarterfinal first leg tie at the Moi International \nSports Centre, Kasarani. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A red faced Gor coach Hassan \nOktay blamed the loss on the players\u2019 strike that had seen them boycott \ntraining in the days leading up to the match. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midway \nthrough the second half, a scary looking man ventured onto the pitch and\n gestured animatedly at a bewildered assistant coach Zedekiah Zico \nOtieno, letting him know in no uncertain terms that more was to be \ndesired from the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy job is very difficult. \nThese types of games require players to be at the best frame of mind. \nDays before the match the players are on strike. You struggle so hard to\n motivate them all season and then this. A 2-0 loss because of this. I \nam so hurt. My job is hard,\u201d said a dejected Oktay in his post match \ninterview. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe five missing players affected team balance and the quality of our performance today. That\u2019s why we lost,\u201d said Oktay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Gor took comfort in the experience of veteran Dennis \nOliech, the Moroccans seemed to bank on midfielder Omar Namsaoui, who \nwas constantly at the centre of many chances for Berkane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\n delivered a free kick in the 24th minute which ace midfielder Issoufou \nDayo headed accurately into the net to temporarily silence the raucous \nhome fans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barke El Helali added salt to injury for \nK\u2019Ogalo in the 51st minute when he capitalised on a defensive mistake \nfrom Philemon Otieno to send the ball right into the net. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boniface Omondi, Kahata and Oliech had good chances in the first half, but they lacked in luck and finishing technique and all their chances came to naught in that first half. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chances were few and spread apart in the second half, as the \nMoroccans managed the game perfectly and purposed only to frustrate \ntheir opponents by holding the ball within their area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly\n through the second half, and with the vocal terrace fans demanding \nchanges in the squad, coach Otieno introduced Erisa Ssekisambu just \nshortly after he had brought Nicholas Kipkurui for Francis Mustafa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sekissambu\n came through with a last chance in the 78th minute but goalkeeper \nAbdelaalai M\u2019Hamdi lay on the path of the ball to make it another \nincredible save. <\/p>\n