{"id":5314,"date":"2014-09-04T12:27:36","date_gmt":"2014-09-04T12:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/?p=5314"},"modified":"2014-09-04T12:40:17","modified_gmt":"2014-09-04T12:40:17","slug":"nutall-takes-his-first-test-against-simba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/news\/nutall-takes-his-first-test-against-simba\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutall takes his first test against Simba"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Gor Mahia travel to Dar es Salaam to play against Tanzanian giants, Simba sports club. On Thursday, Gor Mahia did play a friendly against Nakumatt that ended 1-1 with Timothy Otieno scoring Gor Mahia’s goal in the 25th minute before Nakumatt equalized in the 85th minute.<\/p>\n

However Nutall had not held any training sessions prior to the Nakumatt match. But it did give him an opportunity to watch his charges in action. Simba will be his first opportunity to test his strategies. Fans will hope that he will inject new ideas that will see Gor Mahia play more cohesive football, something that has been lacking of late.<\/p>\n

According to club Secretary General Chris Omondi, Tanzanian giants Simba S.C made a formal request for a friendly earlier on but that did not materialize given tight Kenyan league schedule. The match serves as good preparation as Gor Mahia prepare to take on Tusker in a crucial league encounter.<\/p>\n

Gor Mahia skipper Jerim Onyango was happy at the chance to play Simba<\/p>\n

“This weekend we do not have a league match so I think it will be good preparation for the game against Tusker when league action resumes. We want to give our all in the game come back with a win, he said during\u00a0 Francis Nuttal\u2019s press conference.<\/p>\n

Simba finished an unaccustomed 4th in the Tanzanian league and thus fired coach Zdravko Logarusic replacing him with Zambian Patrick Phiri. They have also recently released former Gor Mahia defender Donald Mosoti who was initially a defensive mainstay there. But they will be buoyed by the return of their former striker Emmanuel Okwi who has rejoined after leaving arch rivals Yanga. Okwi has near legendary status among Simba fans. He is a dangerous striker and the Gor Mahia defence with Shakava, Calabar , Walusimbi et al will need to watch him.<\/p>\n

September 2010 Friendly<\/h3>\n
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Masika takes on the Simba striker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last time Gor Mahia played Simba in a friendly was in September of 2010. The only surviving players from that match is Collins Okoth “Gattuso”, Musa Mohamed and Jerim Onyango. On that occassion, a very young Gor Mahia side comprehensively outplayed the Tanzanian giants beating them 3-1. It would have been higher if not for missed chances.<\/p>\n

That day Gor Mahia scored first through Dan Makori in the 13th minute after being put through by Collins Okoth. Wycliff Opondo scored the second, tapping into an empty net. And before Simba could figure out what was hitting them Francis Ochola made it 3-0 from a brilliant pass by Baldwin Ngwa.<\/p>\n

On that day, the Gor Mahia line-up was as follows<\/p>\n

Ronnie Kagunzi, Solomon Nasio, Chris<\/span> Wekesa, Eric Masika, Musa Mohamed, Anthony Akumu, Wycliffe Opondo (John Kiplangat 59?), Collins Okoth (Robert Onyango 85?), Baldwin Ngawa (Duncan Owiti 85?) Francis<\/span> Ochola, Duncan Makori (Tonny Onyango 77?).<\/div>\n
Reserves not used<\/div>\n
Jerim Onyango, Francis Akang\u2019o\u00a0and Andrew Murunga<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Charles Omondi was the acting coach.<\/div>\n
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