Gor coach: Goalkeeping problem our main undoing

Gor Mahia goalkeeper Frederick Peter Odhiambo during a training session ahead of their Caf Confederation Cup Group D match against Zamalek FC of Egypt on February 2, 2019 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • The howler by Fredrick Odhiambo cost the defending champions a win that could have seen them leapfrog Bandari to the top of standings, at least on goal difference.
  • But as Oktay berates his goalkeeper for the error, we should not take anything away from Vincent Odongo’s long range strike that beat Odhiambo in the posts.
  • Odhiambo is Gor’s second choice keeper but the first choice, Boniface Oluoch, has also given K’Ogalo faithful peace and comfort in the posts this season.

Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay watched in disbelief as his side conceded a "soft goal" in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Western Stima in the SportPesa Premier League at Kasarani Stadium.

The howler by Fredrick Odhiambo cost the defending champions a win that could have seen them leapfrog Bandari to the top of standings, at least on goal difference.

"Yes we have a goalkeeping problem,” a dejected Oktay admitted in his post match comments.

Oktay lamented how his lax defence and goalkeeping department let the team down. "That was a simple goal to allow, we need to work harder and concentrate more on our defensive and goalkeeping departments."

But as Oktay berates his goalkeeper for the error, we should not take anything away from Vincent Odongo’s long range strike that beat Odhiambo.

The Stima man gathered a loose ball almost at the centre, took a few steps forward and as the Gor rear guard continued ball watching, he unleashed a fierce right-footed shot that beat Odhiambo at his near post that he had, ostensibly, covered.

Technically, Odhiambo had all the time to calculate the speed and direction of the ball to make a decent save considering that it wasn’t a swerving shot nor a hard rising one, which can be problematic to deal with. The shot was at a comfortable height which shouldn’t have given any keeper at this stage a hard time to deal with.

Odhiambo is Gor’s second choice keeper but the first choice, Boniface Oluoch, has neither given the K’Ogalo faithful peace and comfort in the posts this season. Then there’s Shaban Odhoji, the third choice keeper, who perhaps to reason known to Oktay has found himself down the pecking order.

"Oluoch is injured but overall we have three goalkeepers who we will work with to improve and at the moment I have not thought or even discussed about buying another one," said Oktay