We lost to a vastly experienced side but our chances still alive Oktay

Despite suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Zamalek on Sunday that pushed them to the bottom of Group ‘D’, Gor Mahia head coach Hassan Oktay is confident that his boys can still make it to the CAF Confederations Cup quarter finals by beating Angola’s Petro Atletico in their last pool match.

Gor Mahia were second best in the tie failing to register a single shot on goal, and Oktay attributed the defeat to Zamalek’s vast experience.

“They had nine players who featured in the last World Cup finals. They have the experience which we don’t have and they deserved it,” Oktay told Citizen Digital after the defeat in Alexandria.

Mahmoud Alaa opened the scoring in the 14th minute from a corner. After the first goal, Gor Mahia kept losing possession easily before attacking midfielder Youssef Obama made it two from a close range through a thunderous drive.

Not even the introduction of Dennis “The Menace” Oliech for Boniface Omondi in the second half shook the Egyptian’s defence.  Zamalek’s central midfielder Ferjani Sassi who also featured for Tunisia in the World Cup finals fired another killer in the 84th minute before Egyptian centre forward Omar El Said tapped home a loose ball to dim Gor.

Gor’s hopes lie in winning the remaining match pitting them against Petro Atletico of Angola on March 17 at Kasarani. A win will push K’Ogalo to 9 points with the winner between Zamalek and Hussein Dey also qualifying from this group.

At the same time coach Hassan Oktay has pleaded with the “awesome” Gor fans to fill the imposing 60,000 seater facility when they host the Angolans.

‘”There is no excuse about the final game. We must win and advance. We don’t want to be sorry for failing to win. We must beat the Angolans,’’ Rwandan striker Jacqes Tuyisenge told Citizen Digital.

Gor are now placed rock bottom of the four-team group with 6 points as Zamalek top the pool on 8 points followed by Petro Atletico and NA Hussein Dey respectively who all have 7.

Meanwhile Gor skipper Haron Shakava was the subject of a procedural post match doping test here. Fifa and Caf guidelines allow match officials to randomly pick any player for the tests, by having them submit urine samples.

Gor are expected back home Tuesday morning with their flight leaving Cairo Airport 7pm Monday evening ahead of a Thursday league date with Kakamega Homeboyz.