NUTTALL TO THROW IN changes: Gor coach to rest key men in next tie as three clubs chase Olunga’s signature
Football
By
ERNEST NDUNDA, DAR ES SALAAM
| Jul 22, 2015
Gor Mahia coach Frank Nuttall says he will make some major changes when his team take on Khartoum National Club of Sudan on Friday in their third match of the Cecafa Kagame Cup at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam.
“Since we have qualified for the quarter-finals with two matches to play, I will give more players a chance to play,” said the coach in an interview.
“I have a very strong bench and it would be wise to explore all the talents I have here by giving them a chance to play,” said the coach.
Ali Abondo and Ronald Omino who did not play the opener against Yanga on Saturday were brought into the starting lineup against Zanzibar’s KMKM on Monday with Innocent Wafula and Dirkir Glay making way.
Goalkeeper Fredrick Onyango, George Odhiambo, Ernest Wendo, Erick Ochieng’ and Enock Agwanda will be hoping to make the starting 11 on Friday.
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However, Michael Olunga will be hoping to still lead the attack as he leads the chase for the Golden Boot award with three goals from two matches.
Meanwhile, three Tanzanian clubs have shown interest in Gor Mahia’s on-form striker Olunga. High spending Azam, Simba and Yanga are ready to sign the 21-year-old engineering student at the Technical University of Kenya.
However, Azam coach Stewart Hall yesterday said Gor Mahia was asking for $200,000 (Sh20 million).
“This is a crazy price tag, but those asking for this money are not true representatives of Gor Mahia.
“They are brokers who want to go in between for their own benefits,” said Hall.
“He is a young player and we can use him as one of our projects. He is tall and physically strong and can partner well with my captain John Bocco,” said Hall.
Hall said he will engage the proper representatives of Gor Mahia with time to settle for the price.
Simba acting secretary Collins Frisch said they were ready to sign Olunga if Gor Mahia gives them a reasonable market price.
Frisch also said the club was interested in Uganda’s defender Khalid Aucho and goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch.
However, Olunga asked those interested in him to hold their horses as his major duty in Dar es Salaam is to help Gor Mahia win the title.
At the same time, Allan Wanga yesterday signed a two-year contract with Azam.
However, Wanga will not feature for Azam in the ongoing Cecafa event as his signing came too late to allow registration.
“I am happy at Azam and I will be an asset to the team. I had many offers but decided to settle for Azam,” said Wanga yesterday.