Gor Mahia trounce visiting KCCA at Afraha

Gor Mahia striker George “Blackberry” Odhiambo scored a brace to guide his side past to a 4-2 victory against visiting KCCA in a friendly match on January 20, 2018 at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru. PHOTO | COURTESY |

What you need to know:

  • Ugandan champions next head to Nairobi to face Tusker on Monday.
  • Mieno, Odhiambo, Omondi on the mark as K’Ogalo get their season preps going.

Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr on Saturday started Ivorian import Ephraim Guikhan on the bench but it eventually didn’t matter, as his charges thrashed Ugandan champions Kampala City Capital Authority (KCCA) 4-2 in a high profile friendly match at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru. 

K’Ogalo’s new signing Humphrey Mieno nodded home the opening goal of this pre-season encounter at the half hour mark.

The lanky midfielder reacted quickest to meet a free-kick from international Francis Kahata to beat the advancing Thomas Ikara who was guarding the visitors’ goal.

Mike Mutebi’s KCCA would eventually pay for that miss, as Boniface Omondi added a second for the hosts with four minutes to the break.

This game was over as a contest moments after resumption when Kenya international George “Blackberry” Odhiambo scored his first and Gor Mahia’s third goal, even though Julius Poloto pulled one back shortly after.

The two teams exchanged a goal in the final minutes of the game with Odhiambo getting his brace.

Innocent Aniku was the scorer for the Ugandan side.

“Our performance was satisfying considering Gor Mahia are an experienced team. We are now targeting the group stages. We have the right players this time and we have tested their confidence since most of them are young,” Mutebi said after the game.

“We got the goals well although we had lost five chances earlier. I am happy with the two goals our opponents got but the win is good for our confidence,” said Gor coach Kerr. The two clubs were using this contest as part of their preparations for their forthcoming African Champions League assignments.

KCCA are set to meet Malagasy side CNaPS in the preliminaries of the Caf Africa Champions League while Kenyan champions Gor will face Equatorial Guinea side Vegetarinos. The first leg matches are scheduled for February 8 to 10. 

KCCA will now proceed to Nairobi to play Tusker and AFC Leopards in Ruaraka and Machakos on Monday and Wednesday respectively.

Gor, who thumped Egerton University 6-0 in their opening pre-season game, will proceed to Machakos for another pre-season friendly against Sudanese giants Al Hilal.