Preparations key to Champions League quest - Nuttall

Gor Mahia head coach Frank Nuttall on Saturday said that proper preparations will be key to the club’s quest of doing well in the 2016 Caf Champions League.

K’Ogalo were for the second year running paired with Madagascar’s Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale Sport (CNaPS) on Friday, whom they will confront in the preliminary round of the Champions League.

“When we travel there, we must have good arrangements; not just for the journey but accommodation too. It will however be an interesting game over the two-legs and we are looking forward to it because we have to keep going,” the award winning Nuttall told Sunday Nation Sport.

Gor faced CNaPS last year at the same phase and tossed them out on away goal rule after a 3-3 aggregate. Gor prevailed 1-0 at home in the first leg but fell 3-2 away to sneak through.

The first leg clash will be played in Nairobi between February 12-14 and the return leg two weeks later.

Gor will be aiming to atone for last year’s failure to advance to the group stages when they begin their quest for Africa’s top club honours.

Last term, K’Ogalo bowed out in the first round after falling to Congo’s AC Leopards 2-0 on aggregate.

Gor’s major undoing was the late registration of its star players - Meddie Kagere, Abouba Sibomana and Karim Nizigiyimana.

And with the trio set to be available, Gor have every reason to dream big in the event that they keep the bulk of its players as well as realise continuity in its technical bench.

GOTV FINAL

Should Gor dispatch CNaPS, they will meet the winner between Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca and Niger’s AS Douanes Niamey.

At the same time, the winner between Nakumatt and Bandari, who clash today in the GOtv Shield final, will take on Congolese side FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo at the same stage in the Caf Confederation Cup.

The first leg will be played away in the DRC, before the winner is decided in the return leg in Nairobi.

Should the GOtv Shield winner beat St Eloi at the first hurdle, they will meet Sudanese outfit Al Ahly Shandy in the first round.