D-day for K’ogalo

By JAMES WAINDI

Gor will aim to bounce back from their ‘Old Trafford’ horror show last Sunday as they make a fresh start to their Continental campaign with a second leg Confederation Cup tie against Mozambique giants Club De Ferroviario at the Nyayo National Stadium this afternoon.

Gor lost the first leg 3-0 three weeks ago in Maputo, leaving them with a tedious task of overturning the results as they need a 4-0 win to progress to the next stage of the competition where they will meet Sudanese side El Ahly Shandy.

K’Ogalo has had a miserable 60 days, which began with the loss to league champions Tusker in a season curtain raiser, followed by a 3-0 drubbing against Ferroviario, then a 1-0 loss to league debutants Muhoroni Youth before club’s 1-0 loss to Karuturi Sports on Sunday.

The loss precipitated the sacking of Cameroonian coach Anaba Awono and his entire technical bench .

The club’s management has brought in former Gor’s great Bobby Ogola and international Tom Ogweno to take charge. The duo, however, have had two sessions only with the side.

"It is going to be tough trying to overturn a 3-0 deficit having been with the team for only three days, but we are optimistic that the boys can do wonders," said team manager Ogweno.

Top strikers

Gor has been boosted by the return of their four top strikers who missed the first leg in Maputo due to injury and given that they will need four goals this afternoon, it is certainly good news for faithful.

The four are George Midenyo, Hugo Nzoka, Dimonde Selenga and Edwin Lavatsa who looked sharp in training despite missing action since November last year when he suffered an ankle injury while playing against Nairobi City Stars.

Captain Jerry Onyango has revealed K’Ogalo is determined to stop the rot following their traumatic start to the season.

"We want to put things right after our poor run," said Onyango.

"Hopefully we put in a really good performance and get back to winning ways.

"It is going to be a fresh start now. The sacking of the entire technical bench in mid week will not affect the team because we are professionals and we know coaches and players normally come and go. The reception of the new official has been positive and everything is ok."

Onyango, who stood in between the posts when Ferroviario beat Gor 3-0 in Maputo, strongly believes they can overturn the deficit, but admitted that it is a tough task.

"It is going to be a tough match, but anything is possible in football. We need a goal or two in the first ten minutes to be able to overturn the scores," said Onyango.

He added: "In Maputo we lacked some organisation, we rushed to score and they hit us on the break. We will have to be very cautious this time because if we concede it would be disastrous for us."