“The game is not over yet,” Fathi told
Goal after the match played at Nyayo Stadium. “We are celebrating here now and I have told my players that immediately we land in Lusaka; we must shift focus to the return leg.
“Gor Mahia is a very difficult team, they proved they are tough to beat until we were forced to change our tact, so we cannot be able to underrate them now we won, we have to stay focused and work on mistakes we committed ahead of the return leg.”
During the match, Napsa Stars scored their goal from the only shot on target and when asked whether that was his game plan, Fathi explained: “We did manage one short on target which resulted in the goal, but it was not our plan to play like that, you know the game was locked in the midfield so I had to plan and change the tact and it is the reason we managed to win the game.”
Daily Monitor
Saturday February 13 2021
A point to prove. Balinya might need to get back to his best to avoid a ‘one hit wonder’ tag. Photo | John Batanudde
Summary
Gone south. When Juma Balinya was overlooked for the Fufa Player of the Year in 2018-19 league season, he felt aggrieved and rightly so, but the attacking midfielder has dipped so much in form since then, leaving many wondering what is going on with him.
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Many who have traced Juma Balinya’s path through his early days at the Kampala Kids League (KKL), Old Kampala SS, St Mary’s Kitende and Vipers believe the KCCA forward could or rather should have achieved more given his undoubted talent.
“Remember one thing, he has been to Europe before [playing for Girona in Spain],” Ambani told
Goal on Wednesday. “I don t know why everyone thinks he should go to Europe again.
“He was in Spain, every league has its own demands, let us allow him to enjoy his football, let us support him. A man s destiny is determined by God, we should be debating Europe or Qatar but did he get an offer from Europe? I don’t think so.
“I haven t seen any offer from any of the European clubs, football is a short-term career thing, let him enjoy his current status and when European doors open again, he will go.”
The CR Belouizdad defeat was not that shocking given the financial and administrative state Gor Mahia found themselves in just before the First Round appearance against the Algerian champions.
Looking at how Gor Mahia have fared in the last four seasons at the continental competition, one can, retrospectively, pick out areas which have proved to be the main causes of their setback.
Office at loggerheads
Currently, the national office running the most successful Kenyan outfit is at loggerheads; chairman Ambrose Rachier and his general-secretary Sam Ochola are not seeing eye to eye. The StarTimes deal – which the chairman affirms the club have not approved – is what drove a sharp wedge between him and Ochola.
Who can replace Vandenbroeck?
Goal analyses the top five coaches who the Msimbazi-based side can consider hiring after the exit of the Belgian.
Here is a list of the potential candidates. Goal Kenya. Steven Polack
The Finnish tactician has coached Asante Kotoko and Gor Mahia before. He helped the Ghanaians win the FA Cup as well as the President Cup. At K Ogalo, he managed to win the Kenyan Super Cup and the league title.
The 59-year-old is currently a free agent and has what it takes to help the Msimbazi-based side continue with their good run. The tactician has the needed the experience to help the Tanzanian giants perform well.