Detained Gor Mahia players finally released
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:
- They missed last Sunday's 1-0 loss to AS Otoho d’Oyo in the first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup play-offs last after the Covid-19 tests row and did not travel back with the rest of their team on Monday.
- “As we are speak they are on their way back. From this incident, it is clear the results were manipulated in Congo to deny them a chance to play. Now we have to work on our preparations and ensure we turn the 1-0 deficit and I’m confident we will achieve our objectives,” said Gor coach Mark Harrison.
Two Gor Mahia players, who were detained in the Republic of Congo after testing positive for Covid-19, were finally released on Wednesday.
Burundian attacker Jules Ulimwengu and combative midfielder John Ochieng’ tested negative for the virus after another round of tests was done on Tuesday.
The duo are expected back in the country Wednesday night with the club's Sporting Director Lordvick Aduda, who remained in the Central African country to resolve the issue.
They missed last Sunday's 1-0 loss to AS Otoho d’Oyo in the first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup play-offs last after the Covid-19 tests row and did not travel back with the rest of the team on Monday.
“As we are speak they are on their way back. From this incident, it is clear the results were manipulated in Congo to deny them a chance to play. Now we have to work on our preparations and ensure we turn the 1-0 deficit and I’m confident we will achieve our objectives,” said Gor coach Mark Harrison.
Gor Mahia will host the second leg on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium as they look to overturn the deficit and seal their place in the group stages of the competition.
The club is training at the Kenya Technical Training College grounds in Gigiri.
Elsewhere, Kenya's other representatives in the competition, Tusker leave the country on Thursday for Tunisia ahead of Sunday's return leg against CS Sfaxien.
The two sided played out a barren draw at the Nyayo National Stadium in last Sunday's first leg.
The 33-man travelling party leaves the country at 1am Thursday for the 11 hour journey to Tunis via Doha, Qatar.
They will then travel by bus for three hours from Tunis to Sfaxien.
According to club chairman Dan Aduda, an advance party of two is already in Tunisia to spearhead preparations for the tie which will be played at the Taieb Mhiri Stadium from 8pm EAT.
