Gor walk tight rope in Madagascar
Gor Mahia players during their Caf Champions League match against Madagascar’s CNaPS at Nyayo National Stadium on February 14, 2015. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- Determined K’Ogalo eye passage to round one
- Only a 1-0 score line to the advantage of Gor separate the two sides as they look to advance to the first round of the competition.
- K'Ogalo have been a regular punching bag to Africa’s superior sides.
- Oluoch’s reflexes and ability to organise his defence have been his strongest points.
At exactly 4pm on Sunday, Kenyan time, Musa Mohamed – Gor Mahia’s vice captain– will trudge out of the dug out at the Stade Municipal de Toamasina in Miarinarivo, Madagascar, and head for the toss with his Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale Sport counterpart Rajanarivelo Ronald.
Only a 1-0 score line to the advantage of Gor separate the two sides as they look to advance to the first round of the competition. Gor have every reason to go at this one hammer and tongs. You see, the last time they won a continental crown was 28 years ago, and that was the Nelson Mandela Cup now renamed Caf Confederation Cup.
In the subsequent years, attempts to conquer Africa in the elite competition have ended prematurely and it will be folly to insinuate that they have been a force to reckon with.
In fact, they have been a regular punching bag to Africa’s superior sides.
However, coach Frank Nuttall will be aiming to write a new chapter in the clubs checkered history. A win will put him on the path to do just that.
KEY PLAYERS
The key men for Gor Mahia in this match are:
Frank Nuttall. Attention will be on the soft spoken Scot tactician. Since he took the reins at K’Ogalo’s dug out six months ago, Nuttall has distinguished himself as a calm and collected coach who goes by what he reads and not what fans want. Besides, he is a disciplinarian who advocates order in the team. This evening, all eyes will be on him to see whether he gets his team selection and tactics right.
Boniface Oluoch. Since he swapped Tusker for K’Ogalo in January, the former Harambee Stars trialist has been in imperious form, keeping one clean sheet in three matches and seems to be Nuttall’s preferred goalie ahead of long serving custodian and skipper Jerim Onyango.
Oluoch’s reflexes and ability to organise his defence have been his strongest points. He is also difficult to beat on a one-on-one situation. However, he is at times erratic. The K’Ogalo nation will no doubt pray that there is no such incident with so much at stake.
Haron Shakava. He did not feature in the first leg meeting but having clocked 90 minutes in Gor’s impressive 4-2 Kenyan Premier League win over Mathare United, the towering former Kakamega Homeboyz centre-half is expected to nail a starting position at the heart of defence.
Calm under pressure and intelligent in his marking, Shakava should help tighten the defence alongside Musa Mohamed. His aerial strength could also be useful in cutting out high balls from the opponents.
Khalid Aucho. The Ugandan boasts of extraordinary poise and balance and is the rock through which Gor’s midfield is built. His vision and crisp passes will be key in unlocking the opponents.
Michael Olunga. He is the main point-man upfront for Gor this term following the departure of Dan Sserunkuma. He initially struggled in front of goal but having opened his account with a double against Mathare United, he will be relied upon to lead the front line. He also brings physical presence and high work rate in the final third.
