NO PRESSURE ON GOR: Slender lead does not worry K'Ogalo tactician ahead of return leg, FKF pledges support

 

Gor Mahia may have underestimated their Madagascan opponents, CNaPS, in their first leg clash of the CAF Champions League preliminary round, which ended with a slim 1-0 victor - according to coach Frank Nutall.

The Scot, however, insisted they could still surmount the challenge facing them in the Indian Ocean country this weekend.

Victor Ali Abondo’s early penalty gave Gor Mahia a 1-0 victory on February 14 at Nyayo Stadium and had goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch to thank for preventing the visitors from claiming a goal.

“There was a tendency to underestimate our opponents and this was a show of disrespect to them. We have to appreciate the fact that we are playing against a team that was the champion in their own country,” Nutall said ahead of their departure for Madagascar today.

“We have to do better away from home,” he said while maintaining they would build on their victory in Nairobi however slim it may be.

“A win is a win. The most important thing is that we kept a clean sheet and played well by creating many chances and reaching our opponent’s goal many times during the match.”

Gor Mahia fly out today hoping to hang onto the slim lead in their quest to make it to the first round of the competition.

Gor Mahia travel to Antananarivo motivated by a 4-2 win over Mathare United in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season opener at City Stadium on Saturday.

More importantly, Nuttall will be delighted by the form of his attacking force after a four-star performance against Mathare.

Elsewhere, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) says it will offer all the necessary support to the country’s representatives in continental football this weekend.

This is despite the fact that both Sofapaka and Gor Mahia ceased to be members of the federation.

Sofapaka will play FC Platinum in a Confederation’s Cup match while Gor Mahia travel to Madagascar for their return champions league fixture against CNaPS.

FKF Chief Executive Michael Esakwa said they have already made all the necessary arrangements for the two teams, including communicating with the host federations.

“With regard to continental football, we will support the two teams and have even seconded federation officials to travel with them. We have also initiated the necessary communication with the host federations,” he said.

It was feared FKF would withdraw their support for the two clubs following the FKF-KPL stand-off.