Gor Mahia in Algeria for CR Belouizdad showdown
Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala (right) vies with APR defender Ange Mutsinzi during their Caf Champions League preliminary round return leg at Nyayo Stadium on December 5, 2020.
What you need to know:
- The match will be played at the August 20, 1955 Stadium from 10.45pm on Saturday with K'Ogalo hosting the return leg on January 5
- A contingent of 25 consisting 18 players and others members of technical bench and club officials arrived at Houari Boumediene Airport (Algeria international Airport) at 3.30pm (Kenyan time), after a 15-hour journey which began at midnight on Christmas Day.
Gor Mahia arrived in Algiers on Christmas Day ahead of the first leg fixture of their Caf Champions League first round tie against CR Belouizdad.
The match will be played at the August 20, 1955 Stadium from 10.45pm on Saturday with K'Ogalo hosting the return leg on January 5
A contingent of 25 consisting 18 players and others members of technical bench and club officials arrived at Houari Boumediene Airport (Algeria international Airport) at 3.30pm (Kenyan time), after a 15-hour journey which began at midnight on Christmas Day.
The match was initially scheduled for December 23 but aborted as K'Ogalo were unable to access the locked Algerian air space.
"We thank God we have arrived safely in Algiers for our match against CR Belouizdad. We are in high spirits and are now checking into our hotel," Gor Mahia assistant coach Patrick 'Pato' Odhiambo told Nation Sport from Algiers.
"After resting we shall have a pre-match conference with our hosts and then feel the pitch. We are confident of a good result and are sure we shall achieve that given that most of our players are experienced in this competition. Having more than 12 hours to prepare for the game is also good for us," added Odhiambo.
Gor will miss the services of injured captain Kenneth Muguna, defender John Ochieng and striker Nicholas Kipkirui who didn't travel with the team.
Muguna is still nursing ankle injury he suffered in the second leg of Caf Preliminary round clash against APR of Rwanda. Gor edged out the Rwandan record champions 4-3 on aggregate.
Ochieng on the other hand is yet to feature for Gor in any competition since joining from the disbanded Chemelil Sugar in August.
Kipkirui told Nation Sport he had family engagements which couldn't be postponed and even received the blessings of the club managers.
"I didn't travel because of the issue of non salary payment as some people are alleging," he said.
The towering forward scored the wining goal in the dying minutes when Gor beat APR 3-1 in the second leg at Nyayo Stadium three weeks ago.
