Gor sweat on travel plans to Nigeria

Uncertainty surrounds Gor Mahia’s departure to Nigeria for the Caf- Champions League first round return leg clash against Nigerian football giants Lobi Stars scheduled for Saturday.

Club chairman Ambrose Rachier says there is scarcity of space on planes plying the West Africa route hence have not been able to secure enough seats for the whole contingent of 26 players and officials.

Should the situation persist, Rachier noted the team may be forced to travel in two batches with some team members flying a Kenya Airways while others may use RwandAir.

“We only have three options; Kenya Airways, Rwanda Air and Ethiopian Airline. But none of them has enough seats for all of us,’’ Rachier told Citizen Digital.

Having won the first leg 3-1 at Kasarani last Sunday, the Kenyan football giants will require a draw of any kind to progress or at worst limit the defeat to 1-0 to progress to the money spinning group stages where a cool  Ksh. 56 million lie in wait .

For Enugu, the odds are higher  and they must beat the Kenyan representatives by two goals to advance on away goal rule.

Francis Mustafa (L) of Gor Mahia FC Otakho Aghakhowa of Lobi Stars FC of Nigeria during their Caf Confederation Cup first round match at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on December 16, 2018. Photo/Stafford Ondego/Sportpicha.

Rachier was however quick to caution players against taking the return leg for granted urging them to give it their all, as in football, the final whistle is the determinant.

“We have not progressed yet and we must give it our all. Anything can happen in a game of football and we have told our boys to treat this game with all the seriousness it deserves if they want to progress,’’added Rachier.

Last season, Gor Mahia lost 1-0 on aggregate to the eventual winners Esperance of Tunisia, having settled for a barren draw at home and ended up conceding a solitary goal in Tunisia in a match played under harsh climate.

In an earlier interview, Gor Mahia captain Harun Shakava hinted that they have prepared well and will not disappoint their fans, adding that the goal is to make it to the group stages.

The inclusion of Francis Kahata in the squad a strong indication his much talked about transfer to Algerian top-tier club Constantine may not materialize after all.

Notably absent from the team to Enugu is midfielder Ernest Wendo after getting two bookings  in the tournament, while Ivorian Ephrem Guikan will not make the trip as he is not registered for the tourney.

Ernest Wendo (L) of Gor Mahia FC contests for an aerial ball with Faouti Kaya of USM Alger FC during their CAF Confederation Cup match at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on May 16, 2018. Photo/Stafford Ondego/Sportpicha.com
Ernest Wendo (L) of Gor Mahia FC contests for an aerial ball with Faouti Kaya of USM Alger FC during their CAF Confederation Cup match at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on May 16, 2018. Photo/Stafford Ondego/Sportpicha.

The man to watch in the return leg will be Samwel Onyango. The marauding winger bagged a brace in the first leg match at Kasarani last weekend

 

Tags:

Ambrose Rachier GOR MAHIA CAF Champions League Nigeria airlines travel batches Lobi Satrs

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