Gor Mahia shift focus to KPL tie against Tusker

Gor Mahia FC coach Steven Pollack instructs his charges against Aigle Noir The Fighters from Burundi during their CAF Total Champions League 2019/20 match at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on August 25, 2019. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

Kenya hopes to have two teams qualify for the Group Stages of CAF Competitions for the first time in history after Gor Mahia and Bandari they secured first round tickets at the weekend.

K’Ogalo demolished visiting Burundian side Aigle Noir 5-1 (aggregate after barren draw in Bujumbura) at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday to progress to the Champions League first round for the third successive season.

Bandari sailed through to the next stage of the Confederation Cup courtesy of an away goal rule after frustrating Sudan’s Al Ahly Shandy to a 1-1 draw in their return leg tie in Khartoum last Friday.

Both teams have been drawn against North African opposition in the next round of the competitions.

Gor will clash with cash-strapped Algerian giants USM Algers in the two legged tie as Bandari tackle Tunisian side US Ben Guerdane.

This will be a perfect opportunity for K’Ogalo to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Algers in the return leg match of the 2018 Confederation Cup group stage in Algiers that led to their elimination after a barren draw in Nairobi.

USM and US Ben thrashed Nigeria’s AS SONIDEP 5-2 and Amarat of South Sudan 5-1 on aggregate respectively, to book a date with the Kenyan representatives. 

Gor Mahia will travel to Algiers for their first leg match on the weekend of September 13-15 before welcoming the Algerians at Kasarani Stadium on September 27-29, while the dockers host the Tunisian on September 14 before making a trip to North Africa on September 28 for the return leg.

Even after seeing his boys register an emphatic victory, Gor Mahia head coach Steve Polack refused to be caught into excitement ahead of the Algiers trip.

The British-Finnish coach insisted that his focus at the moment is on Sunday’s 2019/2020 Kenyan Premier League season opener against Tusker in Kisumu.

“It’s a good result ahead of the next round. Football is all about entertaining people. I have been here for only two weeks but I’m already pleased with what I’ve seen in the team so far. I’m not thinking about the next round, my focus right now is on our league’s season opener,” said Polack (pictured).

Reflecting on the team’s performance in their demolition over Noir, Polack said:

“We knew it would be a tough game, but we started on a front foot and killed it off after getting two goals in the first fifteen minutes. I was quite happy with the boys’ performance, the desire and discipline they showed on the pitch.”

Bandari chairman Musa Hassan was equally pleased with his side’s performance in Khartoum.

“The boys played their hearts out under difficult circumstances.”

“I’m glad we sailed through and made history for the club. We are looking forward to rewriting the history in the next round,” said Hassan.

Kenya hopes to have two teams qualify for the Group Stages of CAF Competitions for the first time in history after Gor Mahia and Bandari they secured first round tickets at the weekend.

K’Ogalo demolished visiting Burundian side Aigle Noir 5-1 (aggregate after barren draw in Bujumbura) at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday to progress to the Champions League first round for the third successive season.

Bandari sailed through to the next stage of the Confederation Cup courtesy of an away goal rule after frustrating Sudan’s Al Ahly Shandy to a 1-1 draw in their return leg tie in Khartoum last Friday.

Both teams have been drawn against North African opposition in the next round of the competitions.

Gor will clash with cash-strapped Algerian giants USM Algers in the two legged tie as Bandari tackle Tunisian side US Ben Guerdane.

This will be a perfect opportunity for K’Ogalo to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Algers in the return leg match of the 2018 Confederation Cup group stage in Algiers that led to their elimination after a barren draw in Nairobi.

USM and US Ben thrashed Nigeria’s AS SONIDEP 5-2 and Amarat of South Sudan 5-1 on aggregate respectively, to book a date with the Kenyan representatives. 

Gor Mahia will travel to Algiers for their first leg match on the weekend of September 13-15 before welcoming the Algerians at Kasarani Stadium on September 27-29, while the dockers host the Tunisian on September 14 before making a trip to North Africa on September 28 for the return leg.

Even after seeing his boys register an emphatic victory, Gor Mahia head coach Steve Polack refused to be caught into excitement ahead of the Algiers trip.

The British-Finnish coach insisted that his focus at the moment is on Sunday’s 2019/2020 Kenyan Premier League season opener against Tusker in Kisumu.

“It’s a good result ahead of the next round. Football is all about entertaining people. I have been here for only two weeks but I’m already pleased with what I’ve seen in the team so far. I’m not thinking about the next round, my focus right now is on our league’s season opener,” said Polack (pictured).

Reflecting on the team’s performance in their demolition over Noir, Polack said:

“We knew it would be a tough game, but we started on a front foot and killed it off after getting two goals in the first fifteen minutes. I was quite happy with the boys’ performance, the desire and discipline they showed on the pitch.”

Bandari chairman Musa Hassan was equally pleased with his side’s performance in Khartoum.

“The boys played their hearts out under difficult circumstances.”

“I’m glad we sailed through and made history for the club. We are looking forward to rewriting the history in the next round,” said Hassan.