PHOTO | PMPS Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his Harambee Avenue office in Nairobi on February 16, 2012 with the Gor Mahia team, led by head coach Anaba Awono (left). The Premier has promised to give the team Sh1 million if they beat Mozambique’s Ferroviario Maputo.
By CHARLES NYENDE cnyende@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, February 16 2012 at 18:39
Posted Thursday, February 16 2012 at 18:39
IN SUMMARY
- PM gives K’Ogalo Sh0.5m and pledges more cash if they beat Mozambique’s Ferroviario tomorrow
Using Zambia’s unlikely but stirring triumph at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations as an analogy was too tempting for even PM Raila Odinga who on Thursday urged Gor Mahia to emulate the Chipolopolo and win the Confederation Cup.
Just like Zambia at the beginning of the Nations Cup, Gor have been given little chance of bagging their second continental title but the football loving Premier dared to dream with the club. Raila could not match the Zambian government’s Chipolopolo gift of about Sh5 million per player but promised Sh1 million to the team should they win their first round, first leg tie against Mozambique’s Ferroviario Maputo on Saturday in Maputo.
The PM, a die-hard Gor fan, made the pledge when he met the team at his Harambee Avenue office.
To show this was not all talk, the PM donated Sh500,000 to the Maputo-bound side as they prepared to fly out on Friday morning for the Mozambican capital city.
It was a timely boost for the self-supporting Gor who channeled part of the money to pay for their air tickets.
Gor’s Cameroonian coach Coach Anaba Awono on Thursday released his 18-man playing unit to face the Mozambican side. Striker Hugo Nzoka is a late exclusion from the team after he failed to recover from a hamstring pull. Ibrahim Kitawi has replaced him. Experienced George Midenyo also failed to make the team after picking a stomach bug.
New signings Ivo Mapunda, Yusuf Juma, David Owino, Ali Abondo and Rama Salim made the cut and look set to taste continental football.
Gor, winners of the same tournament in 1987 when it was called the African Cup of Cup winners, will be looking for an improved performance from their 2009 humiliating first round 6-0 aggregate score elimination by Rwanda Patriotic Army (APR).
Team tactics
African Champions League participants, Tusker, have meanwhile been forced to readjust their plans against Rwanda Patriotic Army after their captain Joseph Shikokoti failed to return this week as anticipated.
African Champions League participants, Tusker, have meanwhile been forced to readjust their plans against Rwanda Patriotic Army after their captain Joseph Shikokoti failed to return this week as anticipated.
Tusker coach Sammy Omollo said he had hoped that the lanky central defender, who has been attending trails in Armenia, would return by yesterday to be incorporated into the team tactics for Saturday.
In his absence internationals Jockins Atudo and fast rising Brian Mandela will be looked upon to hold the defence together. Their work will be cut out for them in the face of APR’s potent looking attack line led by Rwanda captain Olivier Karekezi and Uganda Cranes’ Dan Wagaluka.
Gor squad: Jerim Onyango (captain), Ivo Mapunda, Kevin Ochieng, Yusuf Juma, Ivan Anguyo, Musa Mohammed, Chris Wekesa, David Owino, Collins Okoth, Anthony Akumu, Ali Abondo, Moses Otieno, Duncan Makori, Moses Odhiambo, Baldwin Ngwa, John Kiplagat, Ibrahim Kitawi, Rama Salim.
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