Gor spy on Hussein as Oliech recovery gives team boost

Gor Mahia tactician Hassan Oktay says he will adopt a different game plan when his side lock horns with Hussein Dey of Algeria on Sunday at the Kasarani Stadium in their third Group ‘D’ CAF Confederation Cup match.

The Cypriot reckons he is aware the Algerians will mostly play at the back to pull Gor Mahia players and then launch a counter attack, similar to the tactics they deployed against Zamalek in the 1-1 draw.

‘’I am keenly going through their videos and this will help me determine the right approach to take. So far I have established they like the counter attack kind of football,” said Oktay.

The Algerians who are expected in the country any time this week top Group ‘D’ on 4 points from two matches having beaten Petro Atletico 2-1 in Algeria and snatched a point away from Zamalek in Egypt.

The Kenyan giants are second on 3 points, same as Petro Atletico but with a superior goal difference.

Oktay at the same time refused to shoulder the blame for the team’s blunt strike force noting that he did not sign any of them.

“I will use the players I have. I did not sign the strikers, and you know Gor Mahia had a busy schedule last season hence did not find time for pre-season. This has affected the team a great deal,’’ he regretted.

“In the absence of Tuyisenge(Jacques) and Oliech(Dennis) did you expect me to use Shakava(Haron) as a striker?

“ I only had the option of Erisa(ssekisambu) and Mustapha Francis since Kipkurui was very tired even though he scored our only goal,”he said.

Oktay said he is preparing a young talented sharp striker whom he will unleash soon.

Meanwhile, erratic first choice goalie Boniface Oluoch is still a doubt for the match as he is yet to fully recover from malaria while Dennis Oliech and Ernest Wendo are fully recovered and will be available for selection against the Algerians.

Kenyan international defender Philemon Otieno, who has once again earned a call up to the national team alongside team-mates Francis Kahata and Joash Onyango, will definitely be one of Oktay’s preferred defenders for the game.

In the meantime, Gor face off with Western Stima at Kasarani tomorrow and a win will take them to the top of the log on goal difference even as Oktay prays that his charges don’t pick any further injuries from tomorrow’s match.