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| Gor Mahia players celebrates a past goal against Esperance Sportive de Tunis during their CAF Championship match at Nyayo National Stadium.[PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD] |
KIGALI, RWANDA: Gor Mahia head coach Bob Williamson conceded he has no knowledge about his fridays’s opponents Kampala City Council (KCCA) of Uganda as he launches his campaign in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) Kagame Cup here in Kigali, Rwanda.
“They have no clue of our ability and so do we. It is two teams meeting for the first time and I will take my chances.
“However, it is a big game for us. We have one intention, to win the title and we will not be underrating anyone,” Williamson told FeverPitch yesterday.
The Scottish coach, who will take over Harambee Stars after his mission here in Kigali, was however, categorical, he not is ready to talk about the Kenyan national team assignment and its targets. However, Williamson will focus on helping Gor Mahia win their fourth regional Cecafa club title.
Not many of Gor Mahia current players were born when the club last won the Cecafa trophy back in 1985 in Malawi. Their other successes in the tournament have been in 1980 (Nairobi) and 1981 (Khartoum). “We are all focused on doing well in the tournament,” said captain Jerim Onyango. It is a massive tournament for us. But of course people will be talking about the coach leaving, but for us, winning Cecafa Kagame Cup will be the most important thing,” said Onyango.
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Gor Mahia are in Kigali as the champions of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and are still on course to defend their crown.
“Williamson had become a father figure to many of us in regards to football. He will be leaving soon, but Gor Mahia will survive. We want to do well here in Kigali for ourselves, but most importantly is to do it for him as he leaves, we want him to bow out on a high.”
The Ugandans, like most teams, arrived in Kigali on Wednesday evening and held their first training yesterday. But K’Ogalo coach said, they will focus on their strength after training yesterday at the Amahoro Stadium, the main venue for the tournament. Nyamirambo and Rubavu Stdia will be the alternative venues during the three-week tournament.
“It is our first training here. We arrived on Wednesday evening and it is a good stadium. Unlike the national team, these players have been together for long and they have been able to jell well and know each other.
“We will approach the match with an open mind, and hope that the players will give their best. Winning the Kagame Cup is the ultimate goal, but that will be dependent on the determination and teamwork. We will be taking our matches, one at a time and hopefully, we will have the strength and stamina to prevail,” said Williamson.
Gor Mahia, are in Kigali with a squad of 20 players and Williamson said they are the best prepared mentally for the task ahead. Notable omission from his squad is George “Black Berry’ Odhiambo.
However, the coach will have his charges firing at full throttle, as he will call upon Danny Sserunkuma, Godfrey Walusimbi, Geoffrey Kizito and Arthur Ssemazzi.
Alongside KCCA, Gor Mahia’s other opponents in the group will be Flambeau of Burundi, who they play on Monday, APR of Rwanda and Telecom of Djibouti. Gor play APR on August 15 and Telecom two days later to wind up their group stage assignments.
Today, the opening match of the tournament will pit Tanzanian side Azam against Rayon Sportiff at the Amahoro Stadium before Gor Mahia take on KCCA. The other match of the day will be between Atlabara and KMKM at the Nyamirambo.
-cmusumba@standardmedia.co.ke
