A few weeks ago, Gor Mahia stormed to the top of CAF Confederations Cup Group D with two sounding victories over Tanzanian side Young Africans. (Yanga)
All the team needed was one point from their remaining two matches to seal qualifications to the quarter finals and with get a much needed financial boost of Ksh 35 million. Everyone expected this to be an easy ride for the club that had swept almost everything thrown to them aside including winning the Sportpesa Super cup back in May.
But in the end, Gor ended up losing their remaining two matches and exit the competition unceremoniously. So who should take the blame for the early exit?
We take a look at what went wrong at the mighty K’ogallo. Gor have had their own share of on and off-field issues. Even though they tried dealing with them, the team lost focus along the way.
Perhaps the biggest undoing for the club was the fixture pile up. They have played 11 matches in all competitions in August alone. And however much they tried to balance, fatigue was always going to catch up.
Things were going well until when they lost their first league against Bandari on seventh August. That was the first sign of fatigue. Three days earlier, they had been held to a 2-2 draw by Nakumatt.
They had already played seven matches in less than 15 days by the time they faced Rayon Sports on 19th. They ended up on the losing side but could the results have been different had their match against Chemelil Sugar three days earlier been postponed.
Another issue is the sale of Striker Meddie Kagere and Defender Godfrey Walusimbi at a very crucial time of the season.
Below are some of the reactions from fans and experts on what could have gone wrong.
Gor shot themselves on the foot by selling Walusimbi and Kagere at the wrong time, speak to the management as well.
— Bonface Osano (@bonfaceosano) August 29, 2018
We lost it when we lost to @rayon_sports at Kasarani.
We now know what @OfficialGMFC is capable of.We should get https://t.co/dHod1bft48 has been a great learning experience.#CAFCC— Fintan Ndinya (@fndinya) August 29, 2018
Hehehe, pointing fingers imeanza. But Gor has to blame itself even more. Agreeing to play in too many funny tournaments, releasing key players at the crucial moments and also not sizing the opportunity which presented itself when they were playing Rayon sportif at home.
— Stephen Otieno Odongo (@OdongoStevour) August 29, 2018
Time to reflect our priorities @kenya_fkf and @TheOfficialKPL. We must speak the same language. your ego fights messed up @OfficialGMFC. We must be ashamed, all of us…..
— Mike Okinyi (@MikeOkinyi) August 29, 2018