Gor Mahia coach pleased with new signings

Gor Mahia midfielder Kenneth Muguna during their Cecafa Kagame Cup Group B match against AS Ports yesterday, at the Umuganda Stadium, Rwanda. [Courtesy]

Enterprising winger Boniface Omondi and Dennis Oalo came off the bench to score a goal each and send Gor Mahia into the 2019 Cecafa Kagame Cup quarterfinals with a game to spare after beating AS Ports 2-0 in yesterday's Group D tie at the Omuganda Stadium, in Rubavu.

The victory saw the record Kenyan champions take their points tally to six ahead of Sunday's clash against Zanzibar's KMKM. 

Gor joins Rwandan rivals Rayon Sports and APR in the last eight after both of them won their opening two group matches.

Before kick-off, both players observed a minute of silence to honour legendary Kenyan footballer Joe Kadenge, who passed on Sunday aged 84 after a long illness.

The Djibouti champions had frustrated Hassan Oktay's relatively new-look K'Ogalo which had nine changes including five new signings David Mapigano, Elvis Ronack, Erick Ombija, Dickson Ambundo and Dennis Oalo.

But Omondi broke their resistance with a clinical finish just eight minutes after replacing Samuel Onyango when he volleyed home Ombija's header from Oalo's delivery on the left flank.

The National Super League top scorer then opened his Gor Mahia goals account with an individual effort on the stoppage time.

"I have made nine changes to the squad but I'm not disappointed with what I have seen. The new signings are proving their worth. We are just taking one game at a time," Gor coach Hassan Oktay told Standard Sports.

Erick Ombija came close to giving Gor Mahia the lead inside the opening two minutes, only for the new signing to be denied by Ports goalkeeper Abdi Aptidon.

Former Nzoia Sugar centre half Elvis Ronack then made a brilliant tackle to block Ahmed Mouhamed's shot in the area.

K'Ogalo goalkeeper David Mapigano then came off his line to thwart Gabriel Dadzie in a one-on-one situation on the half-hour mark before Eliud Lokuwam paved way for Dennis Oalo.

Ports had a chance to go into the breather leading but produced a fine save at full stretch to keep out Mouhamed's well executed free kick. 

Meanwhile, Bandari coach Bernard Mwalala is still optimistic of making it to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Cecafa Kagame Cup despite failing to win a game so far in the competition. 

The domestic cup winners have drawn against Ugandan champions KCCA (1-1) and hosts Mukura (2-2) in their opening two B matches.

Bandari face second-placed and champions Azam in a decisive at 4 pm tomorrow in Huye.

"In football, anything is possible. I think mathematically it is still possible to qualify. We have fate in our own hands, so it will be a do or die on Friday," said Mwalala.

Yesterday's results
Gor Mahia 2-0 AS Ports

Today's fixtures (Group C)
Proline v Green Buffaloes-Kigali (2.30pm)
APR v Heegan-Kigali (4.30pm)

Tomorrow (Group B)
Azam v Bandari-Huye (4.30pm)
KCCA v Mukura-Huye (7 pm)