‘Well-prepared’ Gor raring to go, Tusker’s match open to fans
Gor Mahia forwards George “Blackberry” Odhimbo (left) and Burundi international Jules Ulimwengu vie for the ball during a team training session at Camp Toyoyo ground in Nairobi on November 23, 2021.
What you need to know:
- Tusker chairman Dan Aduda also confirmed that the three referees and match commissioner for the fixture will arrive on Friday.
- “We have paid for the stadium, booked for our opponents a bus and a car while the referees also have their hotels already booked.
- FKF only wrote to us on the government takeover and not on the issue of staging the game,” said Aduda.
Gor Mahia are not taking any chances ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup play-off first leg match against AS Otoho d’Oyo of Republic of Congo.
The match will be played at the Alphonse Massemba-Debat Stadium in Brazzaville on Sunday from 5.30pm.
The record Kenyan champions have already sent an advance party to the Congolese capital to organise for their three-day stay there.
Gor Mahia Secretary General Sam Ochola and Sporting Director Lordvick Aduda travelled to Brazzaville on Tuesday evening to make arrangements for the team.
A 16-strong playing unit of Gor Mahia and members of the technical bench are expected to fly out of Nairobi country for the central African country.
This development is in direct contrast to recent past campaigns when the team landed on foreign land for continental games just hours to the scheduled kick off due to haphazard planning exacerbate by lack of finances.
Last season when Gor played Napsa Stars of Zambia in the Confederation Cup play-offs in February, the players left the country in the morning and arrived in Lusaka just two hours to the game.
In April 2019, Gor Mahia players were forced to use the Doha International Airport lounges, as sleeping areas, less than 22 hours to their Confederations Cup quarter-finals match against RS Berkane of Morocco.
However this season, the change in planning for the CAF matches is evident. In their first round clash against Al Ahly Merowe in Cairo Egypt on October 15, K’Ogalo’s lean travelling party arrived three days to the game.
Gor Mahia captain Harun Shavaka told Nation Sport that their preparations have been top notch despite lack of league action after the government constituted FKF Caretaker Committee temporarily suspended the league programme.
“We are determined to get to the group stage. We will fight for a win but at the very least a draw,” said the 27-year-old centre back.
Gor beat Shabana 2-1 and lost by a similar margin to Muhoroni Youth in friendly matches last weekend in Kisumu before returning to their base in Nairobi.
They are now raring to take on the Congolese league champions.
However, in an interesting turn of events, the secretary of the disbanded FKF Barry Otieno on Monday wrote to Gor, saying the federation can’t independently plan and execute the second leg of the play-offs due to government take over.
“As a precaution and in consideration of the safety and well-being of the FKF staff who continue to be intimidated by a section of the Caretaker committee members, the federation has formally informed CAF on the football situation in the country and FKF’s challenge in organising the aforementioned fixture,” said Otieno in his letter.
Meanwhile, a 35-member travelling party of CS Sfaxien of Tunisia will jet into the country Thursday ahead of their play-off first leg tie against Tusker on Sunday at Nyayo that will be open to spectators.
FKF Caretaker Committee member Ali Amour confirmed that gates will be open for ticketing holding fans to watch the encounter.
Tusker chairman Dan Aduda also confirmed that the three referees and match commissioner for the fixture will arrive on Friday.
“We have paid for the stadium, booked for our opponents a bus and a car while the referees also have their hotels already booked.
FKF only wrote to us on the government takeover and not on the issue of staging the game,” said Aduda.
