City Stars ready for Gor Mahia, says Dennis Okoth

Nairobi City Stars assistant coach Dennis Okoth has called for self-belief as his boys tackle champions Gor Mahia in a Kenyan Premier League match on Sunday at the Nyayo Stadium.

With just 12 games to the end of the campaign, City Stars find themselves under pressure to win their matches, beginning with the Gor Mahia clash, to aid their ascendancy out of the relegation zone.

Okoth, who was credited for helping the financially crippled side evade the chop last term, maintains that though the rematch will be tough, he wants his boys to have the belief and play with freedom.

The first leg match ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Jimmy Bageya and substitute Joel Tata scoring for City Stars while George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo grabbed two quick-fire goals to ensure shared spoils.

“The boys have prepared well and what is important is to go to the pitch with the belief we can win. They must play knowing that they can win the match,” Okoth told Sunday Nation Sport.

“The match will be determined in 90 minutes but we are giving the boys the freedom to express themselves on the pitch.”

Ugandan Richard Pinto Tamale recently joined the team’s dugout as head coach and his deputy, Okoth, maintains that even though there have been frequent changes in the team‘s leadership, it hasn’t affected the team’s cohesion.

“There is nothing new, what is important is that we are working together and everybody is gearing towards achieving the goal.”

City Stars have drawn their last three matches and will head into Sunday’s meeting with the champions fired-up. Gor have also failed to register a win in their last two matches and will be out to stem the downward spiral.

The Kawangware-based side will be without Festus Omukuto who is nursing an ankle injury but captain Bageya returns from suspension.