Gor face Vipers in CECAFA quarters as Sserunkuma promises goal respect

Isaac Swila in Dar, Tanzania

If getting to the quarters was tough, then booking a ticket to the semis will even be tougher!

Gor Mahia, Kenya’s representative in this year’s edition of the Cecafa Kagame Cup head into Sunday’s quarter finals clash with Vipers SC of Uganda cutely aware of the Herculean task they face.

K’Ogalo, as Kenya’s representatives here, shoulder the hope and aspirations of 45 million Kenyans and will be facing the mother of all battles when they collide with Ugandan champions Vipers SC at the National Stadium from 4pm.

At stake, is, of course, the bragging rights, and the cherished ticket to the semis.

But aware of the tough task that awaits them, Gor Mahia’s Briton coach Dylan Kerr has called on his charges to improve in every sector, warning that there are grey areas from the 2-0 win over AS Ports which they must polish before they entertain the Ugandans.

He said: “We didn’t create much in the second half(against AS Ports) and our decision making got to be better(against Vipers).

“If our defence is stopping goals, my strikers should be scoring goals or our midfielders should be scoring goals. Our wingers should be delivering good crosses. There are no excuses, we have good players and we do it in training.”

Though Kerr do not know much about the opposition, he believes that Ugandan left back Godfrey Walusimbi and the rest of the squad have a wealth of knowledge about the competition which he believes will be key in helping them beat their rivals.

“Obviously, Walusimbi; all my team know about Vipers. We’ve watched the games they have played in this tournament. We have to identify the strengths and weaknesses and we’ve just to prepare right because we are in the quarter finals.

“Now its knockout stages, that’s when the difficult games start and my boys have to come to the party and ensure they achieve the objective of getting to the semis because everyone wants to get to the final,” Kerr said.

To get to the semis, Gor drew 2-2 against Rayon Sports and Lydia Ludic, before overpowering Ports by a two-goal to nil margin, scoring six goals in the process, and will be aiming to better their goal average.

Vipers, on the other hand, to get to the quarters, drew 1-1 with Jeshi La Kujenga Uchumi(JKU) and settled for a similar scoreline against Azam, before clobbering Kator 3-0 in their final Group A game to sail through as runners-up, behind Azam.

Their form, coherence, work ethic and physicality pose a major threat to Gor who must take care of their midfield, tighten the defence, sharpen the attack, but also watch out for their former team-mate, Danny Sserunkuma, now wearing Viper colours.

Sserunkuma has looked deadly in this competition, underscoring why he was the Ugandan Premier League top scorer last term.

While at Gor he was a crowd favourite but the stout striker has promised to give his best against his former employers tomorrow.

However, as a form of respect, he’s promised not to celebrate should he score.

“We have prepared very well.We are ready. I know they(Gor) have very good players, its going to be tough but I’m going to work very hard to my help my team win.

“I think I will get a good felling if we win the match, it is a great moment to face them because it was my club and I love everyone there. It will be nervous facing them but that its normal.

He added: “If I score and I want to score because that is my job, I’ll not celebrate because I shared a lot of moments with them,”Sserunkuma said on Saturday at their training base in Dar es Salaam ahead of Sunday’s meeting.

Gor will be aiming to break the Cup hoodoo that has now stretched to 28 years.

At the same venue, Simba will take on Ports from 7pm with each angling for a semis ticket.

The winners of the matches will face off in the semis on Wednesday at the National Stadium.

Sunday’s Quarters fixtures

Gor Mahia v Vipers SC-National Stadium, 4pm
Simba v Ports- National Stadium ,7pm