Is Omala Gor Mahia's saviour?

After missing the first leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary tie away to APR of Rwanda, Gor Mahia prodigy Benson Omala believes his presence will be an added advantage for the record Kenyan champions in the return leg on Saturday at Nyayo Stadium.

Gor Mahia lost 2-1 last Saturday in Rwanda and 1-0 win would be enough to see them qualify for the first round of the competition. The winner will meet either Algerian champions CR Belouizdad or Al-Nasr of Libya, the Algerians having won the first leg 2-0.

The-18 year-old, who has been the club's main striker since joining from Western Stima in August, missed the first leg due to national team commitments with Rising Stars, who finished fourth in the Cecafa Under-20 Championship, which ended on Wednesday in Arusha, Tanzania.

He is expected to join K’Ogalo's training at the Two Rivers ground on Thursday after arriving from Tanzania on Wednesday evening.

“I am determined to ensure Gor Mahia qualifies for the next round of Caf Champions League. We have to win by a wide margin so as to avenge the first leg loss,” said the Form Four student at Kisumu Day.

“It will be my debut in Caf matches, but I am ready to lead the striking role. The Cecafa Under-20 matches gave me a good platform to achieve my full fitness considering that we had not played competitive football for six months,” added Omala, ruling out the assertion that he may be  fatigued after participating in the regional championship.

He is expected to partner Burundian striker Jules Ulimwengu, who also missed the first leg after his travelling documents were not processed in time, upfront as Gor look to turn the tables on their Rwandan champions.

Other reserve strikers for Gor are Nicholas Kipkirui, Dickson 'Agwambo' Raila and Ugandan-born South Sudanese attacker Tito Okello.

Omala scored five goals in the pre-season friendlies and made history by becoming the youngest player to win the Kenyan Premier League Player of the Month Award after bagging the coveted award in December 2019.

On his part, K’Ogalo’s captain Kenneth Muguna is confident that home advantage will work in their favour,  saying they have intensified training sessions ahead of the clash.

“We have analysed a lot from the last match with the aim of perfecting the weak areas. We were good in  the midfield, but we failed to shield our defenders and that is why they had space for acute crosses,” said the 24-year-old midfielder.

Muguna scored the lone goal for K’Ogalo in Rwanda by curling in a perfect free kick past APR custodian Ndayisenga Rwabuguri in the 27th minute.

Gor Mahia stand-in coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo and Brazilian tactician Roberto Oliveira have been leading the team’s training sessions at Two Rivers.

Meanwhile, APR's Morroccan coach, Erradi Mohammed Adil, his technical bench and players are expected to jet into the country Wednesday night.

They will undergo Covid-19 tests and have a feel of the Nyayo Stadium on Friday.