Gor finally depart for Kigali job after preps hitches

Kenyan champions Gor Mahia FC finally left Nairobi for Kigali on Friday morning after a series of logistical challenges that have surely derailed their preparations for their preliminary CAF Champions League tie against APR set for Saturday.

An in-house dispute has left Gor’s Secretary General Sam Ocholla suspended by the club after he endorsed a broadcast partnership with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for the relay of their league matches.

Procuring COVID-19 tests for the entire delegation to Rwanda also proved difficult for Gor and FKF came in handy for the local giants on Thursday.

The tests would have been carried out on Wednesday but upon sending the medical team to Gor’s training ground…, the players were absent for what Citizen Digital understands was a go slow in demans for their unpaid allowances.

An arrangement was finally made for Thursday and the exercise went on as planned, as confirmed by a source at the Kandanda House.

Still, FKF had to bail out Gor with part of Harambee Stars kit, which they donned while jetting out of the country. The kit was delivered to club’s Team Manager Jolawi Obondo on Thursday, upon reaching out to the federation.

The few distractions notwithstanding, Gor are fired up for their season opener with captain Kenneth Muguna promising a maximum points.

“We are set for the match. We know they are champions in Rwanda and we are also champions in Kenya. We respect them but our target is to bag maximum points away,” said Muguna.

Despite mingling with the team for under a week, Posta Rangers coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo will be in charge as Gor head coach Roberto Oliveira is disqualified by CAF for the match on grounds of ineligibility.

The Brazilian, who will watch the match from the terraces, said Pamzo will have a full strength squad to work with only Benson Omala missing as he is on national team duty with the U-20 side Rising Stars in Arusha.

With a total of 14 new faces in the team, it will be interesting to see how Pamzo and Oliviera picks the XI having not played in any competitive match with the current composition.

Meanwhile, at time of publishing this account, reports from Rwanda indicated former Gor striker Jaques Tuyisenge could miss the match due to injury.

Traveling Party

Players: Bonface Oluoch, Gad Mathews, Geoffrey Ochieng, Michael Apudo, Philemon Otieno, Kelvin Wesonga,
Charles Momanyi, Joachim Oluoch, Andrew Juma, Ernest Wendo, Bertrand Konfor, Kenneth Muguna,
Bernard Ondiek, Cliffton Miheso, John Macharia, Samuel Onyango, Nicholas Kipkirui, Tito Okello

Technical bench: 

Roberto Oliveira – Coach
Sameul Omollo – Coach
Patrick Odhiambo – Asst Coach
Jolawi Obondo – Team Manager

Willis Ochieng’- Goalkeeper coach
Fredrick Otieno – Team Doctor
Victor Otieno – Logistics