NAIROBI, Kenya, January 20 – The Rayon sport duo of defenders Burundian Abdul Karim Nzigiyamana and Rwandese Abouba Sibomana have not been included into Gor Mahia CAF Champions League quad after the completion of their signing fell out of the January 15 CAF deadline.
Gor have submitted a list of 23 players and club’s deputy Secretary General Ronald Ngala told Capital Sport they had to submit a slim squad due to the constraints of the deadline.
“We finished talking to them after the January 15 CAF deadline and therefore it was impossible for us to have them in the squad. They had been training with us however and we have included them into our league squad,” Ngala told.
The fate of defender Israel Emuge however still hangs in the balance as he hasn’t been included in either of the squads but Ngala says they are hunting for one foreign striker and if they manage to get him, then they will let go of the Ugandan as they have only one slot remaining for a foreigner.
“If we get the striker, then we will release Emuge. However, if we don’t, we will get one local and that means Emuge stays. We want to have a squad of maximum 28 players,” he added.
Among the players who have not been included in the continental squad but are in the local list include Innocent Wafula signed from Chemelil Sugar and Ernest Wendo from National Super League side Bidco.
At the same, Gor have received an invitation from Ugandan league sides Vipers and Sports Club Villa for friendly matches.
“We need to prepare well for the continental games and if we had better strength financially, then we would have prepared better. We will be going to Uganda in the last week of our preseason.
“We have also planned to go to Mombasa where we will play three friendly matches. At the moment, the team is in Nakuru and we face Western Stima tomorrow,” the deputy Secretary General confirmed.
head coach Frank Nuttal is bracing himself for a tough season but says he is optimistic his new players will fit in the bill, pointing out losing three key players was a huge blow to his side.
“We can’t pretend that losing Owino (David), Sserunkuma (Danny), and Kizito (Geoffrey) is ordinary, definitely it was a huge blow but I am hopeful the new players will fill in well. Of course the new players are coming up well and I am hopeful they will seal those gaps very well,” the Scotsman declared.
Gor Mahia’s continental squad
Goalkeepers: Jerim Onyango, Boniface Oluoch, David Juma
Defenders: Musa Mohammed, Bernard Odhiambo, Dirkir Glay, Kevin Oluoch, Harun Shakava
Midfielders: Collins Okoth, Erick Ochieng, Geffrey Walusimbi, Khalid Aucho, Jerry Santo, Ronald Omino, Victor Ali Abondo
Strikers: Timothy Otieno, George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, Herbart Kopany, Michael Olunga, Toufiq Zachary
Players to add on for KPL list
Abdoul Karim Nzigiyamana, Abouba Sibomana, Innocent Wafula, Ernest Wendo.