Breaking News: At least 10 feared to have drowned in Makueni river
Gor seek to overhaul Esperance advantage
What you need to know:
- Gor will be missing the services of injured captain and goalkeeper Jeremy Onyango who conceded soft goals in the first leg tie. Investigations by Nation Sport reveal the Kenyan international played through the pain barrier in the first leg tie.
Can Gor Mahia become the first Kenyan team to win a competitive football match in north Africa?
Or better still, will the Kenyan champions wipe away a 3-2 first leg deficit against Tunisian champions Esperance de Sportive in their African Champions League first round tie?
The answer to this inquiries will be known as from 6pm this evening, when the Kenyan champions confront their Tunisian counterparts in the second leg clash at an anticipated fully packed 65,000-seater Stade Olympique de Rades in Tunis starting 6pm.
The Gor contingent arrived in the Tunisian capital in two batches by Friday afternoon and are residing at the five-star El Mouradi Gammarth Hotel.
“The reception we have received from our hosts is wonderful. They even paid for, and assisted us in processing the visas as promised,” Gor’s deputy Secretary General Anima Oketch, who is with the team in Tunis told Nation Sport on phone.
Gor will be missing the services of injured captain and goalkeeper Jeremy Onyango who conceded soft goals in the first leg tie. Investigations by Nation Sport reveal the Kenyan international played through the pain barrier in the first leg tie.
Onyango’s absence leaves the door open for David Juma and Joel Bataro to stake a claim to the number one jersey.
David “Calabar” Owino
Gor will welcome back influential defender David “Calabar” Owino, who missed the first leg match as he was serving a one-match ban after receiving a red card in the preliminary round of the competition.
The former Karuturi Sports defender should replace either Musa Mohammed or Isreal Emuge in defence.
“Our backline made a couple of mistakes in Nairobi. We can ill afford to repeat that this time round if we are to stand a chance (of qualifying),” said Gor coach Bobby Williamson. “We have to plan periodic attacks as well because the goals will be vital.”
Dan Sserunkuma, who is one of the most potent forwards in the Kenyan Premier League, is primed to lead the attack, with either George Odhiambo, Kevin “Ade” Omondi, Jared Obwoge and Shaban Kenga offering support roles.
The hosts will miss injured Cameroonian forward Yannick Ndeng’, who scored the second goal in the 3-2 triumph last Saturday.
The Kenyan champions Gor will however still need to watch out for Harrison Afful, Haythem Jouini and Ahmed Akaichi who caused several problems to them during the second half of the first leg.
Esperance who have won the Africa champions league on two occasions before, reached the semi-finals of this competition last season. The team is managed by former Netherlands captain Ruud Krol, who helped another Tunisian side CS Sfaxien win the Confederation Cup last year.
