Ten-man Gor Mahia shrug off Congo Boys 3-0

Gor Mahia striker, Caleb Otieno [left] and Congo Boys defender, Musa Binedu fight for control of the ball during the Football Kenya Federation Cup match played at Mbaraki Sports Club .[Omondi Onyango,Standard]

Ten-man Gor Mahia put aside their financial worries to thrash Congo Boys 3-0 and advance to the next round of the FKF Betway Cup.

Tito Okello, John Macharia and Clifton Miheso scored a goal each for the winners.

Okello scored in the 37th minute after he connected with a high ball pass from former Bandari defender and Ugandan import Fred Nkata to beat advancing Congo Boys custodian Edwin George.

However, the Premier League champions were reduced to 10 men after defender Sydney Wahongo was shown a straight red card for a dangerous play on Hussein Abdul in the 43rd minute.

 Macharia pounced on a rebound to add the second goal in the 50th minute for the Gor side coached by Vaz Pinto. Gor surged ahead with the third goal in the 66th minute by Miheso.

The winner of the tournament qualifies for the Caf Confederation Cup.

Gor Mahia could have missed the match due to financial constraints after they were stranded in Wundanyi, Taita Taveta County, where they had beaten Sofapaka 2-1 in an FKF Premier League match.

However, Lady Luck smiled on them after a Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal came to the rescue of the record Kenyan champions. The businessman bailed out K’Ogalo by paying for their travel to Mombasa for the rescheduled FKF Betway Cup Round 64 match.

Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier and Team Manager Jolawi Obondo thanked Shabhal for catering for the team’s transport, accommodation.

“Gor Mahia’s management called me seeking help on accommodation, and because I was aware of their match against Congo Boys, that was to give our coast boys the much-needed exposure, I thought it was only fair to help Gor Mahia honour this match as one way of supporting sports in this country,” Shahbal said.