Gor Mahia clash with Everton

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Wayne Rooney will be the centre of attraction when Everton take on Kenya’s Gor Mahia today in a pre-season match at the refurbished National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Rooney was among the 25 players who arrived at Julius Nyerere International Airport under tight security yesterday.

The team under manager Ronald Koeman checked in at the highly secured Sea Cliff beach hotel.

Rooney, who signed a two-year contract with Everton, makes his return to his boyhood club after playing at Manchester United for 13 years.

Speaking to the media upon their arrival, team vice captain Leighton Baines said they are taking today’s match seriously.
“This is our first pre-season match and our focus is to win,” said Baines.

“We expect an exciting match. We know little about our opponents but we are here in Tanzania for a win,” said Baines.

“This is an historic tour for Everton and we want to make our presence felt not only in Tanzania but in Africa,” added Baines.

Koeman had indicated he would field a strong side against Gor Mahia in today’s match that will be televised live by KTN from the 60,000-seater stadium.

The national stadium was closed last month for the refurbishment of the playing surface.

The playing surface was a major concern to the teams but the sponsors, SportPesa, contracted an English sports ground construction and civil engineering company Clive Richardson Ltd to work on the surface.

Groundsman Shane Mcgeown took charge of the work. Mcgeown has previously worked on Old Trafford and Saint Mary’s in Southampton among others.