NAIROBI, Kenya, February 1 – Champions Gor Mahia suffered a 3-0 loss at home against Zambian titans Power Dynamos in an international friendly match at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams were using the match in preparation of their continental assignments with Gor set to face Madagascar side CNaPS in the CAF Champions League while Dynamos will be in Khartoum playing against Teddy Akumu’s side Al Khartoum in the Continental Cup.
This was fifth friendly match Gor were playing and only the second high profile after losing 2-0 to Bandari last weekend.
“We were looking at the technical aspects of our match and how well we can coordinate our play. Maybe it was a bit painful we lost but again, looking at it positively, we have picked a lot and hopefully we can improve with the 14 days we have,” K’Ogalo head coach Frank Nuttal told Capital Sport said after the loss.
“There are a couple of players who we still don’t have; Erick Ochieng and Godfrey Walusimbi are injured and we still have the two players from Rayon Sport and Meddie Kagere yet to report back. I’m not worried much and next week, we will engage in high gear since we will have a full house,” the Scotsman added.
Gor would have scored at least two goals from the match when they were awarded two penalties with Timothy Otieno seeing his kick saved by Dynamos keeper Joel Kanyeba while in the second half, new signing Michael Olunga blasted wide his spot kick.
Gor’s brightest gem in the match was George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo who showed glimpse of his old self with a couple of daunting runs on the wings which unfortunately amounted to nothing.
Dynamos scored their opener at the stroke of half time, Kennedy Mudenda sending Jerim Onyango the wrong way from the penalty spot after Alex Ngonga was hacked down by Musa Mohammed.
Larry Bwalya stretched Dynamo’s lead to two in the 55th minute tapping in from a decent square ball from Ngonga after Gor lost the ball in midfield.
Richard Kasonde scored the third with another of clinical finishes, the Gor defence having no reply.
Dynamos Coach Tennant Chilumba was happy with the result of the match and the way his boys played saying; “We are not yet there in terms of how well I want us to play but at least today, we could pass the ball well and our fitness levels have slightly improved.
It was a good game, of course Gor gave us a good challenge and we look ahead to a good time here in Kenya as we prepare for our Confederation Cup match in Sudan.”
Dynamos will be in the country for 10 days and according to Chilumba, they will be playing against GOtv Shield champions Sofapaka on Wednesday and against Kenyan Premier League Top 8 winners Tusker FC on Saturday.
