Nairobi News

Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttal has said his team’s mission is to erase the undesirable record of exiting continental competitions early as the team embarks on its Caf Champions League campaign on Saturday against CNaPS of Madagascar at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Speaking to Nairobi News Nuttal said the team has players capable of achieving that objective.

“The new signings have demonstrated beyond doubt that they are equal to the huge tasks ahead. The club has struggled in the continental stage for a while now and it is important that we turn this around. We shall not underrate the opponents but we will work towards a win,” Nuttal said.

In their Champions League campaign last year, K’Ogalo began positively beating Gabon’s US Bitam 4-2 on post match penalties after a 1-1 aggregate stalemate.

They were however humiliated 8-2 on aggregate by Tunisian club Esperance in the next round of the competition.

NEW SIGNINGS

The 14 time Kenyan champions engaged in active business in the off season transfer period bringing in 13 new players to bolster the squad ahead of the new season.

The tasks of bringing in the goals will rest squarely on newcomer Michael Olunga, who is expected to team up with mainstay strikers George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo and Timothy Otieno upfront.

But some of these new signings namely Meddie Kagere, Abouba Sibomana, Ernest Wendo and Innocent Wafula will out of the match since their names were not submitted to Caf on time and are therefore ineligible to play.

Nuttal hinted that midfielder Eric Ochieng, who has been out of action with injury for the past three weeks, will not be in the starting lineup, but will be on the bench.

Meanwhile, according to reports in the Madagascan press, the visiting team looking be looking to atleast score an away goal against Gor Mahia in Saturday’s match.

K’Ogalo lost 3-0 to Power Dynamos of Zambia in a friendly match in Nairobi a fortnight ago but registered a morale boosting 2-1 win over Sofapaka to clinch the DStv Super Cup on Wednesday.