Muguna motivated as Mwalala plots for an away goal in Conakry against Horoya today.
Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia and domestic cup winners Bandari are determined to secure CAF Confederation Cup group stage qualification ticket as they take on their respective play-offs opponents today.
K’ogalo will be seeking to qualify to the lucrative group stage for the second season in a row when they tackle Congolese giants DC Motema Pembe in the 4pm first leg tie at Kasarani Stadium, while the Dockers will be away to AC Horoya in Conakry, Guinea.
Unlike, Gor Mahia who are grappling with financial challenges, missed a couple of their players including captain Kenneth Muguna and his assistant Joash Onyango in last weekend’s Kenyan Premier League match 1-0 victory against Kariobangi Sharks, Motema Pembe arrived in the country on Friday after a three-day training camp in Rwanda.
This will be the first time in over two and half decade that the celebrated Congolese giants will be visiting since thrashing Kenya Breweries 5-2 on aggregate in the two-legged final of the 1994 CAF Winners Cup.
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But boosted by the availability of the instrumental duo of Muguna and Onyango, Gor Mahia is ready to bounce back from the humiliating 6-1 defeat on aggregate to Algeria’s USM Alger in the first round of the Champions League.
“We’ve put the Champions League disappointment behind us and we expect nothing short of victory. It will be a difficult game, but we’ve trained well and we are all determined to fight hard and qualify to the group stage again,” Muguna told Standard Sports.
“This is the last hurdle in qualifying for the group stage, but also a chance to bring a smile back to the faces of our fans. It’s a very important match for us. I don’t want to talk about our financial situation, but just know we are motivated and ready for the game.”
Muguna’s sentiments were echoed by his teammate Tobias Otieno, who said; “Though we are having some tough times at the club, this is another chance for us to fight back and make our fans proud.”
But for Bandari coach Bernard Mwalala, just like their previous matches against Sudan’s Al Ahly Shendi (1-1) and Tunisia’s US Ben Guerdane (2-1), they will be going for an away goal in Conakry.
“We’ve prepared well and I’m glad we don’t have any injury. The boys are motivated and have gained a lot of confidence from our last two away matches against Al Ahly Shendi and Ben Guerdane,” said Mwalala.
“We are here looking for a positive result and we’ve a strategy for that. Scoring an away goal will mean a lot to us. I’ve watched their videos and I know how to handle them. But we must stick to our game plan, remain focused and be alert in defence.”
Bandari booked a ticket to the historic play-offs after beating US Ben Guardane 3-2 on aggregate.
