Gor Mahia coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto insist they were the better side against Napsa Stars and deserved to reach the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup.
Emmanuel Mayuka came off the bench on Sunday to convert a dramatic last minute penalty to send Napsa Stars to a historical debut CAF Confederation Cup qualification at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Napsa rallied from 2-1 down at home to finish 2-2 against Gor Mahia of Kenya to qualify 3-2 on aggregate to next month’s group stage after the first leg 1-0 away in Nairobi on February 14.
But it was Gor Mahia hit the ground running after flying in from Nairobi just three hours before kickoff and made a statement in a four-minute goal fest after the first quarter.
Of course, the result was not desired, especially by coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto, who was appointed to steer the club that was deep into a managerial crisis.
Firstly, his job was not going to be easy since he arrived at a time when Gor Mahia were involved in a sponsorship tussle with Football Kenya Federation over the StarTimes broadcasting partnership.
Secondly, the Green Army were under the guidance of an interim coach in Sammy Omollo, who has since been confirmed as an assistant, when they took part in the Champions League.
Omollo was urgently invited to steer the club after Roberto Oliveira Gonzalez was disqualified from overseeing the continental games as he did not possess the requisite qualification papers.
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