MK254
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- May 11, 2013
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Mimi mshabiki wa Yanga nikiwa Bongo, lakini leo hii naegemea upande wa Gor Mahia, maana uzalendo na Ukenya kitu cha msingi na muhimu. Bahati mbaya sikupata nafasi ya kusafiri hadi Bongo nikawashabikie Wakenya wezangu. Natumai mashabiki wa Simba akina kadoda11 na wao wataiga na kushabikia Yanga, ila niliwashangaa sana waliposhabikia Waarabu dhidi ya Yanga.
East Africa football powerhouses Gor Mahia and Young Africans of Tanzania will clash Saturday afternoon in the opening match of the Cecafa Club Championship tournament at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia are arguably the most followed club in the country, and the same can be said of Yanga whose 10 million fan base is only rivalled by their eternal rivals Simba SC, whose fans are estimated at eight million.
This opening match-up is therefore set to be a sell-out, although the Kenyan team will bear the underdog status for this encounter, considering the fact that KOgalo have not won the tournament in over three decades.
POOR RECORD
Gor have had an awful outing in international assignments since they reclaimed the league in 2013. It will be remembered that they were eliminated from last years Kagame Cup in the group stages without having won a single match in Rwanda.
But if the old saying that a team reflects the coachs personality, then KOgalo should approach their opening encounter against the Jangwani side without fear.
Every team is here because they are champions in their own countries. Like them, we are a strong team and at the end of it all we shall see who is the strongest, Nuttall told Saturday Nation Sport on Friday in Dar es Salaam before taking the team through the final training session.
On reports that his team must beat Yanga in todays match to have a real chance of making it past the group stages, Nuttall conceded he would indeed be contented with a draw.
This is not a knock out tournament. We have three matches to play in the group stages so any result can be corrected after the first match. Yanga are chasing the ultimate prize and they have home support and although the opening match is always crucial, a draw wont be a bad result for us, he said.
Nuttall has briefed his defending quartet of Karim Nizigiyimana, Harun Shakava Abouba Sibomana and Musa Mohammed of the aerial prowess of Yanga captain Nadir Cannavaro Haroub, who is known for his physical strength and trademark headers.
Nuttall will bank hopes that striker Ali Abondo will not be as muted as he was during KOgalos last league match against Mathare United, and that striker Michael Olungas partnership with Meddie Kagere will be as fruitful as it has been in the local league. But Yangas assistant coach Boniface Mkwasa on Friday said that they will approach the match with caution keeping in mind the fact that KOgalo have a sparkling 2015 record in the local league.
The match is going to be tough. I have been following Gor closely and I know that they are unbeaten in the league. We shall therefore be cautious in our approach, he said.
The last time the two teams met in this tournament was in 1996 where they were pooled together. They drew 1-1 in the group stage match and KOgalo won 4-0 in the play-offs later in the tournament.
Probable Lineups:
Gor:
Bonface Oluoch (GK), Karim Nizigiyimana, Musa Mohammed, Harun Shakava, Abouba Sibomana, Khalid Aucho, Collins Okoth, Ali Abondo, Godfrey Walusimbi, Meddie Kagere, Michael Olunga
Yanga:
Ali Mustapha (GK), Juma Abdul, Haji Mwinyi, Nadir Haroub, Kavin Yondan, Mbuyu Twitte, Simon Msuva, Haruna Niyonzima, Amis Tambwe, Donald Ngoma, Geoffrey Mwashiuya
http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/football/Gor-Mahia-face-Yanga-in-Kagame-Cup-opener/-/1102/2793036/-/36k34rz/-/index.html
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