![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gormahia.net\/images\/gattuso-afc-14.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Gor Mahia technical bench and medical staff will be closely watching defender Karim Nigiziyimana and midfielder Collins Okoth, both of whom picked up injuries during the tense match against Mathare United on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Coach Frank Nuttall expressed hope that the duo only suffered slight injuries.<\/p>\n
“I hope they only suffered knocks and not serious injuries. Karim\u00a0 and Collins are very important in the team, they play big roles and it will be a big loss if their injuries are serious,” said Nuttall to supersport.com<\/p>\n
Nizigiyimana has not only been solid defensively but has been a key pillar of the Gor Mahia attack with his inch perfect crosses. He currently leads the team in assists. The relentless Gattusso has been solid for the club, patrolling the defensive midfield area and covering efficiently for overlapping full backs.<\/p>\n
Okoth probably just needs some rest since has played in numerous games since last year for both club and national team.<\/p>\n
Former Harambee Stars coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee is convinced that Gor Mahia will perform much better at this year’s CECAFA cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis time round I am convinced Gor Mahia will play better and perform well than last time out in Kigali, Rwanda, when they left tourney without winning a single match.\u00a0They have a good side, and their run in the league is not a fluke, it is a quality side which I believe will cause anxiety in the tournament. I think they will go all the way to the semis, and then from there u know it is anyone\u2019s game. They can even bring us the title, because they are equally competitive with full of experience.” said Mulee to goal.com<\/p>\n
Mulee however expressed concern about Gor Mahia’s defense which of late has appeared porous after going 10 matches without conceding a goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite having good strikers, midfielders and defenders, my worry though is in their central defense. It is weak, truth be told. Musa Mohammed and Shakava are good, but at this stage, experience is vital. I hope Dikir Glay will be available for them; they need him in the team. For example, the goal Mathare United scored against them over the weekend, with better central defenders that cannot happen.” he continued.<\/p>\n
Whereas Gor Mahia assistant coach Bobby Ogolla has insisted that a strong attack is Gor Mahia’s best defense, Mulee thinks such an attacking formation can be exploited by good teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir high line is also risky; we saw that against Mathare United having four offensive players against two defenders, they will need to work on that. It will take a single match for the opponents to know your weaknesses and capitalize on them. Nevertheless, I think the team will perform better this time round and I am confident last edition\u2019s incident will not happen again.\u201d continued Mulee.<\/p>\n
Gor Mahia appears to be the only CECAFA cup side whose federation declined to facilitate air tickets. Sam Nyamweya flatly refused while suggesting that no\u00a0 agreement was ever reached that made it a requirement for national FAs to facilitate air travel for the representative teams.\u00a0 Nyamweya claimed his federation was too broke to pay for tickets. However war torn Somalia FA chairman Shafi\u2019i Mohyaddin Abokar insisted that the agreement was valid and that each FA was indeed required to facilitate air tickets.<\/p>\n
“We facilitated everything for the team to ensure their participation of the competition, because Somalia had never missed a single CECAFA competition and we want to keep that record alive, he said according to futaa.com.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n