{"id":6871,"date":"2015-06-05T00:40:07","date_gmt":"2015-06-05T00:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/?p=6871"},"modified":"2015-06-05T00:41:03","modified_gmt":"2015-06-05T00:41:03","slug":"gor-mahia-take-on-tusker-in-crunch-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/news\/gor-mahia-take-on-tusker-in-crunch-match\/","title":{"rendered":"Gor Mahia take on Tusker in crunch match"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The match will be played in Kisumu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gor Mahia will be hoping to conclude the 2015 KPL first leg fixtures on a positive note when they take on Tusker FC in Kisumu on Saturday. Gor Mahia will be in high spirits after having beaten Thika United 2-0 on Monday. Tusker for their part, ended a dry spell by beating SoNy Sugar by a similar score. They are currently in sixth place, 14 points behind Gor Mahia.<\/p>\n

In Gor Mahia’s line-up will be three players who left Tusker for various reasons. Ali Abondo was deemed surplus to requirements at Tusker. Khalid Aucho opted not to renew his contract and Tusker showed little interest in resigning Boniface Oluoch who looked eager to face his former side.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, it is an emotional return. It is always difficult to play against a team which developed you since there is that attachment. However I am in another team which is expecting me to perform well, to the best of my ability and that is what I am going to do, give my best,\u201d Oluoch told goal.com Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Oluoch however gave due credit to his defense which has been largely responsible for the run of nine matches without conceding a goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually I am not the one who has achieved the fete, this is a team effort. Without good defenders, this would have been impossible to achieve. So it is everybody\u2019s effort which has enabled me not to concede in the last nine matches. It is a record I want to maintain against Tusker, though I know it will not be easy to do it, but I want to make it ten out of ten.<\/p>\n

Also facing his former team is Ali Abondo. He is having an excellent season after having been discarded by Tusker. He will be playing against former team-mates which could give Gor Mahia some insights. One of his opponents on Saturday (Jockins Atudo) is a player with whom Abondo played with in secondary school (Otieno Oyoo Secondary), at Sony Sugar in 2007 then again at Tusker in 2007.\u00a0 Abondo will have a point to prove against his former team. However coach Nuttall will have advised him not to let the emotions of the game get to him and just play according to the game plan.<\/p>\n

Tusker coach Francis Kimanzi for his part opted not be drawn into any discussion about his former players.<\/p>\n

“They left Tusker and I am happy they are doing well wherever they are. My concern is about my team and the players I have and how I can make them improve,” said the former Mathare United and Sofapaka coach now at the helm of Tusker.<\/p>\n

“Players move for various reasons and the one who have left Tusker have excelled elsewhere, some have left other clubs and excelled at Tusker so its something normal and I am happy for every player who is performing. It shows the level of competition in clubs and in the league,” said Kimanzi to supersport.com.<\/p>\n

The match will be played in Kisumu where Gor Mahia has received good support of late. The club received a boost when Deputy President William Ruto donated return tickets from Kisumu.<\/p>\n

“We are really grateful for what the Deputy President has done to our team. The trip to Kisumu by road at times can be tiresome but our players will be in good shape after avoiding the long journey,” said chairman Ambrose Rachier to the club site.<\/p>\n

Politics aside, this is a good gesture from the DP and Gor Mahia is best served by not being aligned to any political party. Gor Mahia should accept assistance from anyone.<\/p>\n

Kickoff time is 15:15 on Saturday at Moi stadium.<\/p>\n

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