Coach Omollo vows to keep faith in Gad

Gor Mahia stand-in coach in the CAF Champions League Sammy Omollo ‘Pamzo’ says he’ll keep faith in custodian  Mathew Gad as his first choice goalie after an exemplary performance in Saturday’s 3-1 routing of Rwandese giants APR.

Omollo says it was a blessing in disguise for Gad after first choice keeper Boniface Oluoch fell ill. Omollo says the Kisumu All Stars import deserves a reward and will be his first choice keeper in future matches.

Gad saved Jacques Tuyisenge penalty in the early minutes of the game and made further acrobatic saves to keep Gor in the game, winning the contest to move to round one of the CAF Champions League.

Gor Mahia face Algeria’s CR Belouizdad with the first leg in Algiers before hosting them week later in Nairobi.

“When a player does well, he surely deserves a reward. Gad proved that he deserves to be between the sticks. I was so much impressed and he will surely retain that position,’’ said Pamzo.

“I had never seen him in serious action before but the way he has been playing in training and during friendly matches is something no coach can ignore. I gave him a chance and he proved his worth,” added Omollo.

‘Pamzo’  has tipped the goalie to go places now that they are in the first leg of the CAF competition.

The stand-in coach also lauded Clifton Miheso, Nicholas Kipkurui and Sydney Wahongo – all of whom came on as substitutes and completely changed the game leading to two late goals in the hard-fought 3-1 win over the Rwandans.

Omollo has an uphill task ahead bearing in mind that KÓgalo were eliminated in the first round by USM Alger of Algeria in the last edition and also fell to Hussein Dey.

Should Gor overcome the Algerians, they will join the money-minting group stages but defeat will see them drop to the CAF Confederations Cup.