Pamzo: Gor can play at Champions League level

Coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo has insisted Gor Mahia FC have the quality to compete at the CAF Champions League despite their unceremonious exit from the competition at the hands of CR Belouizdad.

The Kenyan champions were on the end of a humiliating 8-1 aggregate loss, bowing out of the continent’s premier clubs competition for which they have never reached the group stages.

While it appeared Gor were completely out of their depth against the Algerians, Pamzo says the margins could have been closer had their preparations been better.

“It’s all about planning, we can’t say we don’t have the quality. This team has the quality to progress at least to the group stages, but we must plan well just like the Algerians are doing. It is very possible, but not with issues like going to the training only to find players are missing. The one week we failed to train for example meant a big blow,” said Pamzo.

The Posta Rangers tactician, standing in for Gor’s head coach Roberto Oliveira, was flattered by the prospect of handling the team but reiterated loyalty for his employers.

“I have a running contract with Posta and therefore that’s where my loyalty is. Even with the duties at Gor, I have never missed a single Posta match and that tells it all. I was just helping, and with the agreement between the two clubs was about the Champions League matches, and I think they (Gor) will get another coach heading to the Confederations Cup,” he offered.

However, when probed further, the former Kenyan international and Gor player said a chance to coach K’Ogalo would be a big honour to him.

“Given a chance it is always a big honour to be part of the Gor Mahia family, so let’s wait and see what happens.”

His official side Posta has featured in five league matches of the current campaign, registering four draws and a loss.

Pamzo guided Gor past Rwanda’s APR in the preliminary Champions League round winning 4-3 in aggregate, his presence at K’Ogalo triggering a debate on the place of a foreign coach (Oliveira) whose credentials are below par as far as CAF CL is concerned.