Kahata, the man who almost failed to make South Africa trip returns to haunt SuperSport United.

Gor Mahia FC's midfielder Francis Kahata (right) is challenged by Jose Manuel of Leones Vegetariano during CAF Champions League at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County on Feb 10, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Not even Francis Kahata would have written a better script. The South Africa embassy denies him a visa for lack of enough pages on his passport.

Three of his dependable teammates, Jacques Tuyisenge (Rwanda), Ephreim Guikan (Ivory Coast) denied visas. No tickets for the team to Pretoria, South Africa, 24 hours to the clash with Supersport United in a Caf Confederation Cup.

The aggregate winner bags Sh27million and a slot in the Group stages of the continental tourney. The rest, as they say, is history.

For, in a twist of fate, wonderboy Kahata returned to hurt the South Africans on Wednesday night with a delicate finish less than a minute after Supersport had taken the lead via an own goal by captain fantastic Haron Shakava.

But in what would appear a feat of destiny, Kahata finished off George Odhiambo’s cross. And although Thabo Mshamane restored Supersport’s lead, Gor Mahia held on to win on away goal rule having beaten the South African’s 1-0 in Machakos on April 4.

“It is a dream come true and an opportunity for most of us to market ourselves. We knew they (SuperSport) would come strongly on us, but we remained calm and played our game,” Kahata told Standard Sports on phone from Pretoria.

“That was a night to remember. We rolled up our sleeves and fought hard like real warriors. We never gave up even after conceding an own goal. We had pretty good response and immediately after equalising, we got our confidence back. It was a moment for us to step up and we did it. That away goal did us magic.”

Kahata was quick to thank head coach Dylan Kerr and the management for the role they played in the processing of his visa. The group stage draw will be conducted tomorrow in Cairo, Egypt.