Gor Mahia shift their attention to two crucial Caf Confederation Cup duels in North Africa, first with NA Hussein Dey in Algeria on Sunday and with Zamalek in Cairo five days later.
The Kenyan champions will thereafter fly to Cairo, Egypt on Monday six days in advance of their penultimate Group D match against Zamalek SC, according to the club’s first vice chairman John Pesa.
The official downplayed Hussein Dey’s vow to serve up a hostile reception for Gor when they arrive in Algiers after the Algerians claimed they had been mistreated last Sunday in Nairobi where they lost 2-0.
During a heated final quarter-hour, Hussein Dey were reduced to ten men after Chamseddine Harrag was sent off for a second bookable offence before they fell 2-0 down thanks to Francis Kahata and Jacques Tuyisenge’s goals in the 84th and 88th minutes.
Pesa said they are preparing their players psychologically to deal with stadium hostilities as they seek to take at least a point from the Algerians.
“We know they are not happy with the defeat and even told us at Kasarani that we will know their true selves when we get to Algeria”.
Among issues raised by Hussein were that they were given a ‘cricket pitch’ to train on, referring to the Utalii Grounds in Nairobi.
“We will give our best, we want to progress and the only thing we can do that is by putting a brave fight. Kenyans should pray for us, that is what I am asking,” Gor coach Hassan Oktay said.
They also claimed Gor did not offer them a decent bus to pick them from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to their hotel saying this was against FIFA rules.
Gor lead the charts in Pool D with six points, two clear of Hussein Dey who lead Petro Atletico only on goal difference while Egyptian giants Zamalek round off the four-team group at the bottom.