12 years on...Gor Mahia itching to avenge APR thrashing

Gor Mahia Saturday welcome APR at Nyayo Stadium in the return leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary round match with memories of the 5-0 thrashing in the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round 12 years ago still fresh.

This reverse fixture kicks off at 4pm with Gor Mahia aiming for a win after losing 2-1 to APR in Kigali last week.

In 2008,  K’Ogalo under the tutelage of James Siang’a (R.I.P.) was building a youthful squad after the club went for over a decade without winning the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title. An inexperienced Gor side lost 1-0 in Rwanda before being hammered 5-0 in Nairobi.

Then Gor boasted of upcoming talents Ibrahim Kitawi, Duncan ‘Macheda’ Owiti, George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, Solomon Nasio and Erick ‘PPO’ Masika who all featured in the match.

Tuyisenge returns

Former Gor Mahia striker Moses Odhiambo ‘Dube’ on the other hand came in as a second half substitute for a strong APR side which reached the group stages of the competition that year.

A similar scenario will play out on Saturday as former Gor Mahia talisman Jacques Tuyisenge will be turning out for APR just a year after leaving K’Ogalo.

Tuyisenge, who came in as second half substitute in the first leg, told Nation Sport that he is focused on guiding APR to the first round of the competition.

“Gor is my former team and I had a very good time here but I am now on a different mission and that is qualifying for the first round. Our preparations for this match have been good and we are here to win,” said the 29-year-old striker who scored 50 goals in Gor Mahia's green jersey.

Must-win

Apart from Tuyisenge, APR led by 40-year-old Moroccan coach Adil Erradi will bank on attacking duo of Danny Usengimana and Seif Niyonzima, who scored in the first leg. 

APR defender Fitina Omborenga, who impressed in the first leg at the heart of the defence and kept K’Ogalo strikers at bay, is another player to watch in Saturday’s match.

However, Gor Mahia defender and assistant captain Philemon Otieno says they are ready for the must-win encounter.

“We have to win since we have done a lot during the training sessions and the work that remains is now to be done on the pitch. It will be a tough game because all the teams have quality players but we have to fight and get a good result. Everybody is determined to get the win for our fans,” he said.

The 18-time Rwandan champions had a feel of the match venue on Friday during their last training session before the game.

Gor had also trained at Nyayo in the morning before pitching camp at a hotel along  Mombasa road. Politician and businessman Eliud Owalo donated 40 tracksuits to players and the technical bench after the morning session.

Probable line-ups

Gor Mahia

Gad Mathews, Geoffrey Ochieng, Philemon Otieno,  Andrew Juma, Charles Momanyi, Bernard Ondiek, Ernest Wendo,  Kenneth Muguna,  Samuel Onyango, Tito Okelo, Benson Omala

Subs

Boniface Oluoch, Joachim Oluoch, Michael Apudo, Kelvin Wasonga, Sydney Ochieng’, Bertrand Konfor, Clifftone Miheso and Nicholas Kipkirui

APR

Ndayisenga Rwabugiri, Thiery Manzi, Djabel Manishimiwe, Ange Mutsinzi, Bukuru Christophe, Prince Buregeya, Danny Usengima, Niyonzima Seif, Djihad Bizimana, Emmanuel Imanishimwe and Fitina Omborenga

Subs

Claude Niyomugabo, Jacques Tuyisenge, Mushimiyimana Byiringiro, Lauge, Jean Bosco, Ahishakiye Heritier