Gor handed Sh1m boost ahead of Algeria trip

Gor Mahia FC have been handed a Sh1m cash donation by Air Charter Company, 748 Air Services ahead of their trip Algeria for their CAF Champions League second round clash against CR Belouizdad.

The 748 Air Services Chairman, Ahmed Jibril, a long-term supporter of Gor, wished the club the best in the continental assignment and urged corporates to support growth of local football clubs.

“I am very honoured and I would like to thank the leadership sincerely for giving me an opportunity to contribute in small way to a club that is a national heritage, and that we all ought to be associated with.

“All of us, all businesses, organisations and individuals should be able to be proud of and support our Kenyan teams and especially Gor Mahia, a club with a rich history. We wish them all the best,” Jibril said.

Gor chairman Ambrose Rachier expressed gratitude towards the donation saying it will support their expense out of the country over the next one week.

‘Extremely Grateful’

“We are extremely grateful to Ahmed Jibril and 748 air services for the generous donation which will go a long way in meeting our expenses while in Algiers,” Rachier said.

Rachier says they will fly Qatar Airline and will go via Doha before connecting to Algiers the following morning.

‘’We shall leave on Sunday for the long journey and all is set. We will have enough time to train before facing our opponents in Algiers come December 23,’’ said Rachier.

Rachier added that just like their previous trip to Rwanda, they will undergo a mandatory Covid-19 test before leaving their hotel and thereafter have a chance to test to venue of the match a day to the game.

The travelling party consists of 22 players, 7 from the technical bench and office and Mr Joseph Andere who is representing the federation.

The local giants are in this round courtesy of a 4-3 aggregate win over Rwandese giants APR to advance to the first round of the Champions League.

In an earlier interview, Gor stand in coach Sammy Omollo ‘’Pamzo’’ indicated that they will try to avoid conceding in Algeria before accomplishing their mission in Nairobi January 3 in the return leg.

‘’Our mission is to deny them a goal in Algeria and do fireworks back home. I believe we are capable’’, said Pamzo.

Gor Mahia has had a difficult time against Algerian opposition in the past. In May 2018, Gor held Algeria’s USM Alger to a barren draw in Nairobi before falling 2-1 away in Algiers, a result that ended their group stage campaign.

In September 2019 in the first round of the CAF Champions League, USM Alger repeated their message to Gor with a 4-1 win in Algiers and 2-0 win in Nairobi a fortnight later.

‘’Pamzo’’ will really need to strategize if his dreams of eliminating the Algerians will have to be fulfilled. They are known to be very fast on the break and on counter attacks and this calls for a lot of care in the midfield and also the defence.

Defending alone will not help ‘’Pamzo’’ as a single mistake can give advantage to the Algerians. Further Gor will need an away goal that will help them as did in their match against APR in Rwanda.

Rachier believes the two days prior to their meeting with the Algerians will be enough for them to acclimatize hence produce a good result.