Confed Cup: K’Ogalo drawn in fairly easy Group D alongside Tanzania’s Yanga

KPL 2018 Coach Gor Mahia Dylan Kerr give advise to Striker Francis Kahata during KPL match against Bandari FC at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County on Saturday March 3, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr has described Group D of the CAF Confederations Cup as tricky and interesting, but a relief to the club financially.

The 16-time Kenyan Premier League champions were pooled together with East African rivals Yanga (Tanzania),  Rayon Sports (Rwanda) and Algeria’s USM Alger in yesterday’s draws conducted at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Despite being first timers in the lucrative group stages, Kerr, who previously coached Simba SC in Tanzania, insists good preparation will play a key role in their performance.

However, he is encouraged by their familiarity with his former Tanzanian rivals Yanga and Rayon Sports.

“It is a good draw as far as our financial capacity is concerned because we don’t need to travel too far for the games. It is an interesting group because of the familiarity we have with some of the teams. I know a lot about Yanga and some of its players. The Algerian team is well known,” Kerr told The Standard Sports.

“Of course Yanga have a new coach and new players, but still I know more about the team. The atmosphere will be very very noisy when we go to Dar-es-Saalam.

“But it is all about preparation and ensuring we get everything right.

“This is not a favourable group as people think. Every team is there wants to be in the top two.

“So, those thinking that being drawn with Yanga and Rayons is going to be easy are not sincere.

“All those teams are there to fight for the financial rewards and recognition.”

With only the top two teams qualifying to the next phase of elimination, Kerr has called on his players to remain focused and carry Esperance and SuperSport United experience into the upcoming continental matches.

“We have to go into the group stage with a different mindset.

“We are going to play against best teams in Africa who deserve to be there.

“My technical bench will start researching on our opponents from Monday after the Thika United match.

“I expect the boys to carry the recent experience to this level,” said Kerr.