Gor Mahia players posing for a photo before facing Ulinzi Stars in their mid-week fixture that they won 1-0 to trim Tusker FC’s lead to two points. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 16- Gor Mahia head coach Jose ‘Ze Maria’ Marcelo says they will treat the remaining six matches as a final as his club lays assault for a historic 16th Kenyan Premier League title and a fourth consecutive.
K’Ogalo have managed to trim the gap between them and leaders Tusker FC to just two points after their midweek hard earned 1-0 victory over fellow title contenders Ulinzi Stars in Nairobi.
The Brazilian tactician, nicknamed ‘Ze Maria’ from his hey days as a ‘Selecao’ right-back, has called on his charges to brace up for a determined ride to the end of the league as they confront what he termed as ‘six finals’.
“I said from the beginning, even when we were far behind, that we could win this league. Now, we are going to a tough end. We have six finals coming up and we need to be ready to fight. But that’s what I love about my team and my players. They love to fight,” the tactician told Capital Sport.
Inconsistent leaders Tusker will have only themselves to blame for letting off a seemingly good lead, dropping points in two of their last four matches.
It’s from that lurk luster performance by the 10-time champions Tusker that Ze Maria would love to pounce on and if he wins his next match against bottom side Sofapaka and Tusker lose to Muhoroni Youth, then leadership will change hands.
Ze Maria was pleased with how his side overcame a tough Ulinzi side in a game which he described as the best this season.
The Brazilian tactician, nicknamed ‘Ze Maria’ from his hey days as a ‘Selecao’ right-back, has called on his charges to brace up for a determined ride to the end of the league as they confront what he termed as ‘six finals’. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
“I loved the game because every team came to the pitch to win. Ulinzi came at us from the word go and we were also attacking. I can say this is the best game we have played and I wish every team can play like them; wanting to win.”
“My players did exactly like we had planned and they played to instructions. We are very confident with this result,” he added.
Gor will not be in action this weekend as they were ousted from the GOtv Shield and the coach will have more time to get down to work and look at the weakness that need to be improved ahead of a potential banana skin against relegation threatened Batoto ba Mungu.
Skipper Musa Mohammed has called on his team-mates to maintain the focus even as he holds firm belief the title is theirs for the taking.
“We need to give in all in the final six games. We have a chance to win this league and I know if we maintain the same focus, discipline and hard work, we have what it takes,” Mohammed averred.
After Sofapaka, Gor play Western Stima, then arch rivals AFC Leopards in the Mashemeji derby, Mathare United and then finish off with Muhoroni Youth just like they did last term.
