They work, they chase, and they get the ball, Kerr hails battling Gor

Isaac Swila in Dar, Tanzania

Relieved Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr has hailed his charges after they gave a battling performance against AS Ports of Djibouti here on Thursday night, winning 2-0 to qualify for the quarter finals of the Cecafa Kagame Cup as Group B leaders.

K’Ogalo cruised thorough on five points same as Rayon Sports, tying virtually on every count, but Gor inched through as top team, based on the fair play rule.

For their tough heroics, Gor have been rewarded with another tough test against Vipers SC of Uganda, in a match primed for Sunday.

However, the Briton took took time to hail his charges who defied the odds, not only escaping elimination, but emerging as group leaders.

“Credit to my players. They gave a fight. It’s humid, it’s hot, the legs are tired but they gave everything.They do try. I’ll give them credit for that, they try to play the right way, they try to make chances, and I’m delighted that we got through because it has been tough for us.We kept a clean sheet which is fantastic. My back four was fantastic today(yesterday),”he said.

Team captain Harun Shakava was also pleased with the victory.

“It was a hard match because our opponents also gave us a good game.I hail my colleagues because they came to the situation and that gave us the win today,” he noted.

Kerr said that his charges must now recuperate ahead of the Sunday test, adding that it has been a rigorous 10-day period bedecked by intense action.

” Look, we only have two days break to really recover now. We hadn’t had that, we’ve played five games in nine days; it’s tough but I tell you what… these players run, they work, and they chase, and they get the ball, and they attack, and they lose it, and go back and get it again, and that takes effort, and that takes energy, and that’s why we prepare for football matches, and we do it very very well!”

Philemon Otieno, an unlikely hero of the night, made it two-in two, after scoring against Lydia lUdic on Tuesday, while Charles Momanyi also found the mark for the Kenyan champions.

Kerr however rested Francis Kahata for the match; the former Thika United man having constantly been linked with a move to Simba, but Kerr insist the decision to rest him was for recuperation purposes and nothing to do with the transfer speculation.

” Why do we want to talk about Francis? Francis has played all the games this season and I decided he needed rest .There’s no problem whatsoever. I’m the coach and I decide who’s going to play. Francis needs to rest, he’s been superb through the season,” Kerr, whose tactical prowess has seen the glamour club maintain an unbeaten run in the league, said.