Gor Mahia are no pushovers, warns Everton legend

Gor Mahia players in a past training session [Courtesy]

Everton legend Yakubu Ayegbeni has warned his former club that Gor Mahia will be no pushovers in tonight’s (10 pm) SportPesa Trophy match at the Goodison Park.

While expressing his admiration for the record Kenyan champions’ style of play, the former Nigerian international, who watched the SportPesa Super Cup final in Nakuru where K’Ogalo beat Tanzania’s Simba SC 2-0, he challenged the East Africans to make this opportunity count.

 “From the way Gor Mahia played in Nakuru, I saw they are focused and ready to fight for each other. Gor is a very physical team; when you look at the back they are more aggressive and are good in the midfield,” said Ayegbeni.

“Now, they need to give everything when playing a Premier League team because a chance like this can change their entire life. It is a great experience for the young players to learn, they need to take it because they many never get it again in their lifetime.

“The players must grab the opportunity and make it count. In football, such opportunities come once and you never know what can happen. “

Gor players training in Liverpool [Courtesy]

The former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers man was also quick to heap praise on Francis Kahata, claiming that the Kenyan international is capable of causing troubles to the English Premier League side.

Kahata was instrumental in Gor Mahia’s  2-0 SportPesa Cup final win over Simba in June.

“There was a dreadlocked player in the midfield with a deft left foot. I really liked him and the way he plays. He is a great player and will for sure cause troubles on Tuesday. It will be difficult to mark him as well," admitted Ayegbeni.

Gor Mahia had a feel of the pitch (Goodison Park) yesterday evening ahead of tonight’s encounter.