Kerr applauds classic Walusimbi and team for Kigali heroics

Kerr applauds classic Walusimbi and team for Kigali heroics

Defiant Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr has hailed the “professional attitude” of utilityman Godfrey Walusimbi in the wake of his energetic display against Rayon Sports in a Caf-Confederation group stage match, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

At the same time the tactician has urged his team to be proud of their display.

In a post-match reflection with Citizen Digital, the rain-soaked Briton paid glowing tribute to ‘warrior’ Walusimbi who returned to the thick of things after a difficult 40-day period during which he failed to feature for the team owing to a contractual dispute.

Kerr said that Walusimbi gave his all and exhibited a fantastic professional attitude during the difficult period.

“I thought we were brilliant…we had three more chances and they(Rayon) got the free kick. It came from our laziness, because George ‘Blackberry’ lost possession and they scored.

“I keep telling the players (how good they are) and if they don’t believe me…then they saw it today,” he said.

On the Ugandan, the easy-going Briton observed: “Walusimbi is a top professional, he has kept himself fit and the situation is now manageable for me. George Blackberry talked to me and said, ‘coach, I need Walusimbi’, and you see when he returned Blackberry performed better.”

“The energy we got is absolutely amazing. We are trying to enjoy it (the club championship) and to play in a game like this is amazing. At times, we play in Machakos with very low number of fans… so to come here and absorb the atmosphere is amazing.”

Gor’s next assignment is pencilled for this weekend when they tackle English Championship side Hull City at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and Kerr wants his boys to put their best foot forward and take advantage of the opportunity.

“I’m challenging the players to go give their best (against Hull City) and that we keep injury free. They need to go and enjoy the game,” he noted.

Besides earning a point against Rayon, Kerr will particularly need to address the defensive frailties which have been exposed in their recent league matches, and which showed again against the Rwandan champions.

Under pressure, the rear-guard seems to crack and before they face-off with Algerian powerhouse Algiers, Kerr will need to tighten the defence as well as oil the attack.

Playmaker Francis Kahata spurned open scoring opportunities that would have won K’Ogalo the maximum points before a partisan home crowd.

The Midfield tactic

Kerr will also have to rethink his strategy of partnering the languid Humphrey Mieno with Ernest Wendo moreso in high energy sapping games like this.

With the stakes, higher, Gor needs a highly energetic two-pivot midfield anchor-men and Mieno, like on Sunday, falls short in this regard, while Kahata, though good going forward, offers little defensively, something that piles more pressure to the defense.

Isaac Swila is reporting from Kigali, Rwanda

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Kigali CAF GOR MAHIA Godfrey Walusimbi Dylan Kerr team Rayon Sport

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