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courtesy of futaa.com<\/p>\n
2013 Kenya Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia have released a squad of 26 men that will fight to retain the title when the 2014 edition kicks off over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Among the 26 are the 13 newly signed players that includes former Kakamega Homeboyz towering defender Haron Shakava and Kanga High School youngster Herbert Oduya Kopany.<\/p>\n
The team under the tutelege of Scottish Robert Williamson assisted by John Otieno Ogolla, team manager Frank Ouna and chaired by Ambrose Rachier has seven defenders, ten midfielders and six strikers.<\/p>\n
Goal keepers<\/b>: 1. Fredrick Jerim Onyango, 16. David Otieno Juma, 23. Joel Bataro<\/p>\n
Defenders<\/b>: 24. Israel Emuge, Simone Pierre Guidougue, 5. Musa Mohammed, 19. Solomon Nasio, 2. Godfrey Walusimbi, 18. Haron Shakava, 15. David Owino<\/p>\n
Midfielder<\/b>: 21. Rama Mohamed Salim, 3. Geoffrey Kizito, 9. Shaban Kahindi Kenga, 4. Kevin Onyango Oluoch, 10. Daniel Ong\u2019ondo Onyango, 20. Joseph Kariuki Maina, 7. Joseph Wanyonyi, 11. Innocent Mutiso, 6. Antony Akumu, 17. Eric Ochieng\u2019.<\/p>\n
Strikers<\/b>: 8. Dan Sserunkuma, 12. Jared Omwenga Obwoge, 30. Patrick Oboya Onyango, 25. George Ogutu Odhiambo, 27. Herbert Oduya Kopany, 14. Kevin Obwaka Omondi.<\/p>\nTeam Focused on Gabon task<\/h3>\n
Courtesy of The Star<\/p>\n
Gor Mahia will not hold back on their slim 1-0 lead when they travel to Gabon to face US Bitam in the second leg of their preliminary round of the CAF Champions League this weekend.<\/p>\n
“We are going there to play football. We will not sit back and defend our lead. We have the players who are capable of getting the result we want and we will not hold them back,” said assistant coach John Bobby Ogolla after the team’s last training session at City Stadium yesterday.<\/p>\n
Bobby Williamson’s men leave for Libreville this morning knowing too well that a chance to make history beckons for them as they seek to become the first Kenyan side to get past the first hurdle in Africa’s most lucrative football tourney.<\/p>\n
Against Bitam, Gor’s defence manned by the tough as nails Kenyan intentional David Owino, Musa Mohammed, Uganda Cranes Geoffrey Walusimbi and rookie Haron Shakava held firm, giving them an opportunity to get into the next round should they not concede again.<\/p>\n
“Shakava played well but it was a learning moment for him. We are sure such games will give him more experience and confidence as we go forward,” said Ogolla.<\/p>\n
Shakava recently acquired from relegated Kakamega Homeboyz was playing in his first competitive match for K’Ogallo. The lanky young defender took the place of experienced Ugandan centre back Israel Emuge but Ogolla was not willing to be drawn into explaining the circumstances which led to Emuge being kept on the substitutes bench.<\/p>\n
“Emuge’s issues are for us as a team. The coach decides which players are best suited at every moment to play a particular match,” said the legendary former K’Ogallo sweeper.<\/p>\n
The return leg fixture has come too soon for injured wingers Kevin Omondi and Joseph Wanyonyi both of whom missed the first leg and are certainly out of today’s trip to Gabon<\/p>\n
Wanyonyi and Omondi have been undergoing treatment with the clubs physiotherapists as they struggle to be fit for the start of the domestic season.<\/p>\n
Gor’s sole goal was a penalty scored by Ugandan striker Danny Serunkuma. Together with Rama Salim, Shaban Kenga, Jared Obwoge and fans favourite George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, Sernkuma will again lead Gor’s search for goals on Saturday. The winner of the match will face Tunisian giants Esperance in the first round.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n