No sacred cows at Gor Mahia, says Logarusic

Brazilian striker Giovanni Rodriguez will have to fight for a position at Gor Mahia like other players if he is signed up, coach Zdravko Logarusic has said.

Rodriguez, who arrived in the country on Sunday, is expected to attend his first training session with the club this morning and coach Logarusic has said the Brazilian will have to prove himself on the pitch before he is signed up.

“It is good he is here, but he must work hard on training. He has to prove that he is the kind of player we are looking for,” said Logarusic.

“If he is not better than Rama Salim, Dan Serunkuma or Paul Kiongera, we will not recruit him. We will put him on the next plan back to Brazil. He has to have something special for us to take him but we will not treat him special,” added the coach.

Rodriguez says he is at Gor Mahia to win trophies and wants to become the first ever Brazilian to play for a Kenyan club.

Keen interest in Gor

“I have followed Gor Mahia keenly over the last year. I like the passion in the team and I think I am in the right place. I hope to prove myself on training and hopefully sign a contract with the club,” said the Brazilian through an interpreter.

“Many will ask why a Brazilian should come to Kenya to play football. Yes, it’s interesting, but I love Africa and I love Kenya. There has to be a first and I want to be the first Brazilian to play football in Kenya. I am no tourist,” he added.

Giovanni, has played for several clubs in Brazil, says he cannot wait to wear Gor Mahia’s jersey.

Meanwhile, hardworking midfielder midfielder Moses Odhiambo is back at the Gor Mahia after failing to clinch a deal with a club in the Middle East.

Odhiambo, voted the best midfielder at Gor last season, was expected to join Salalah of the United Arab Emirates but the deal fell through and he was back at Gor’s training camp on Monday.

Odhiambo drafted in team

Gor Mahia vice chairman David Killo confirmed Odhiambo was back at the club and his name has been included in the list of players to play for the club in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup Championship this season.

“We are happy to welcome back Odhiambo. His deal in the Middle East seems to have hit the wall and we are now sitting down with him to see if we can give him a new contract,’’ said Killo. “Odhiambo was one of our best performers last season and we are happy to have him back,’’ added Killo.

Odhiambo, whose contract had expired at Gor Mahia had been expected to move to Oman.

Gor have also completed the signing of former Mathare United winger Innocent Mutiso. Mutiso did not renew his contract with his former club.

Other new signings at Gor Mahia are Paul Kiongera from Kenya Commercial Bank, David Otieno from Western Stima, Israel Emuge from Uganda’s Kira and Zachary Onyango from Coffee Board of Ethiopia.

The club has submitted its list of players to the Confederation of African Football for the CAF Confederations Cup.

The list has Jerim Onyango, Ivo Mapunda, Zachary Onyango, Musa Mohammed, Solomon Nasio, Ivan Anguyo, Donald Mosoti, David Otieno, Davis Owino, Chris Wekesa, Yusuf Juma, Moses Otieno, Moses Odhiambo, Abbey Natty, Rama Salim, Ali Abondo, Joseph Njuguna, Anthony Akumu, Kevin Omondi, Dan Serunkuma and Israel Emuge.