I didn't sleep, Gor Mahia ace recounts nightmare debut in Rwanda

Gor Mahia defender Andrew ‘Roma’ Juma has revealed that he was disgusted after scoring an own goal in the first leg of Caf Champions League preliminary round match against APR in Rwanda last weekend.

Juma, who made his competitive debut for Gor in the continental match, scored an own goal in the 63rd minute to hand APR a 2-1 win in Kigali.

Seif Niyonzima had opened the scoring for the hosts in the 10th minute before captain Kenneth Muguna curled in a neat free kick past APR goalkeeper Ndayisenga Rwabugiri to level matters for K’Ogalo in the 27th minute.

Gor Mahia and APR clash in the second leg of the preliminary round on Saturday. K’Ogalo need at least a 1-0 win to qualify for the first round on away goals while a 2-1 win will see the match decided on penalties after 90 minutes.

Questioned God

The former Mathare United defender who played alongside Charles Momanyi, Philemon Otieno and Geoffrey Ochieng’ at the back says he felt he had denied his team a favourable draw.

Despite consolation and encouragement from his fellow players and stand-in coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo and Brazilian tacticiam Roberto Oliveira, Juma says it took him two days to get over it.

“I didn’t sleep and questioned God why my debut in a Caf match would be like this. It was tough for me because I felt I had robbed my team of a deserved 'victory' through the away goal,” said Juma.

“I was down during the first two training sessions but I have since picked myself up. I'm ready to go the extra mile so that we can get the win, I will even try to score so that I can compensate for my own goal,” added Juma who has promised a good performance on Saturday.

Former teammates

Meanwhile, striker Jules Ulimwengu who previously played for APR's rivals Rayon Sports says he knows a number of his former teammates who now ply their trade with the 18-time Rwandan champions.

The 21-year-old Burundian international revealed that he played with Niyonzima, APR captain Theiry Manzi, Ange Mutsinzi, Bukuru Christophe, Djihad Bizimana and Emmanuel Imanishimwe at Rayon Sport during the 2018 season.

The K’Ogalo talisman says he has already tipped his teammates on how to tackle the players, their strength and weaknesses ahead of Saturday's match.

“They are good players, I was with them in the 2018 season at Rayon Sports. I have shared with my teammates how they generally play because they form the first team of APR.

“Even though they have a new coach now and the system of play might have changed I know their individual strengths and weakness and we shall use that to beat them,” said the striker who missed the first leg after his travelling documents were not processed in time.

The record Kenyan champions need to beat APR by at least two goals to secure passage to the first round.