Gor blow as Otieno to go under the knife

Kenya’s international right back Philemon Otieno has been ruled out of Sunday’s return leg of the CAF Champions League tie between Gor Mahia and their Burundian opponents Aigle Noir at Kasarani.

Club secretary general Ronald Ngala says Otieno will be out of active football for three months after picking a knee injury during an African Nation Championship (CHAN) match between Harambee Stars and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in which Kenya was eliminated on post match penalties after a 0-0 aggregate tie.

“Philemon is due for surgery and will be out for close to three months. He will definitely not play any sooner and we will give an update of his progress. The rest of the players are fit and available for selection,’’ explained Ngala.

Otieno is set to fly to France next week for a surgery after picking a cruciate ligament injury while on international duty. He is primed for the procedure on September 3, with the federation set to cover the costs.

Meanwhile Ngala told Citizen Digital that their Burundian CAF Champions League opponent Aigle Noir arrives today in readiness for the Sunday’s preliminary return leg at Kasarani.

The team is expected in two batches with the first batch arriving today while the rest of the team is expected tomorrow.

Ngala says they are not aware about the their visitors’ itinerary since they are only obligated by CAF to avail a bus for the team with the rest of the arrangement taken care of by the visitors themselves .

“CAF only tasks us to avail a bus for the team but about accommodation, it is upon the visiting team to book a hotel of their choice. Up to now we are in the dark about where they will put up,’’Ngala explained.

The match will be officiated by Rwandan officials with only the match commissioner coming from Tanzania. The officials are expected this Friday.

Meanwhile Ngala says they don’t intend to reduce gate charges as a way of enticing fans to attend the match. VIP tickets will retail for Sh500 while tickets for the terraces have been pegged at Sh200.

“We would have even wished to allow our fans into the stadium for free. But the cost of preparing for a match of this calibre is quite high. From accommodating the referees and so forth. Our fans should just understand and make it in their numbers to the stadium,’’ lamented Ngala.