Ulimwengu itching to avenge Congo mistreatment on the pitch
Gor Mahia's Sydney Ochieng (left) joins Jules Ulimwengu in celebrating his goal against Sofapaka during their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at Thika Sub County Stadium on June 20, 2021.
What you need to know:
- The 21 years old forward and midfielder John Ochieng’ arrived in the country on Thursday 1am, three days after the rest of the team jetted back
- The duo, who didn’t feature in the loss after testing positive for Covid-19, were allowed to travel back after their returning negative results on Wednesday, though Ulimwengu, questioned the authenticity of the test
- However, the forward says the issue is now behind him and has urged his teammates to put up a spirited fight in the return leg on Sunday to qualify for the group stage
Burundian striker Jules Ulimwengu says being detained in Republic of Congo after his Covid-19 results turned positive will not deter him from helping Gor Mahia overturn the 1-0 defeat to AS Otoho d’Oyo when the two teams clash on Sunday in Nairobi.
The 21 years old forward and midfielder John Ochieng’ arrived in the country on Thursday 1am, three days after the rest of the team jetted back.
The duo, who didn’t feature in the loss after testing positive for Covid-19, were allowed to travel back after their returning negative results on Wednesday, though Ulimwengu, questioned the authenticity of the test.
However, the forward says the issue is now behind him and has urged his teammates to put up a spirited fight in the return leg on Sunday to qualify for the group stage.
Reports indicate AS Otoho d’Oyo will jet into the country on Friday morning for Sunday’s clash at Nyayo National Stadium from 3pm.
“It wasn’t a good experience in a foreign country and I think the results were manipulated. We were lonely and I was aggrieved to have missed the game. However, it’s now a non-issue to me and my team mates. My focus is now on the second leg which we have to win by a big margin,” he told Nation Sport on Thursday.
After jetting into the country, the duo attended Thursday's training session at Kenya Teachers Technical College in Gigiri.
Ulimwengu's sentiments were echoed by the club’s leading goal scorer Benson Omalla who also called on his team mates not to focus on the frustration they suffered in Brazzaville but Sunday’s game.
“Despite all the misery we suffered, the only solace we can get is making our fans happy by winning by a big margin and making it to the group stage,” said the 19 years old forward.
Gor coach Mark Harrison will have still a lean squad of 15 players in the second leg but Gor could have an option of registering more players in the competition during the January transfer window if they make it to the group stage.
However, that will be subject to clearing Sh3 million debt of Ghanaian midfielder Jackson Owusu so that the club can have the Fifa transfer ban imposed in October cleared.
While Gor are plotting on how to tackle their opponents, Kenya's representative in Caf Confederation Cup play-off Tusker arrived in Sfax, Tunisia on Thursday 3pm.
Under the tutelage of Coach Robert Matano, Tusker will have their first training in the North African country on Thursday before having a feel of match venue Taieb Mhiri Stadium on Saturday.
The brewers will be out to bag a win of any kind or a scoring draw to make it to the group stage. CS Sfaxien held Tusker to a barren draw at Nyayo National Stadium last Saturday.
