Goal. For me, age is not important but the quality of the player. Even if you are a 16-year-old but with quality, I will play you. For me, the most important thing is the quality of the player.
[Against Mathare], I gave an opportunity to [Alphonse Onyango]. He came, played well, and scored. It is good to give the upcoming players an opportunity to play because it will give them confidence and I believe they will be better in the future.
The Portuguese tactician hopes to have some new players to improve the team but has promised to work with the available ones if his wish is not granted.
“It is a club that has given me so much since I arrived in 2018 straight from school. I have worked with some fantastic coaches and players and I believe this is the perfect environment for my development as a player.”
Mainge also made promises to the fans who are eager to see AFC Leopards lift the Premier League as their efforts have been fruitless in more than two decades.
“We have aims as a group and I believe with hard work and dedication we will achieve them,” he added.
“To the fans who have been supportive all through my journey, I don t take it for granted and the only way I can show my appreciation is to give my best every time I m out to represent the blue and white colours.
“Even though Gor Mahia have started the season badly, they are still a difficult team to get the better of and we must be at our utmost best if we are to do that,” Otieno was quoted by the club’s
Facebook page as saying.
“Even more now that they have a new coach. We must work as a team from the first whistle until the last. We didn’t start the season on the right footing last weekend against Sofapaka so we have to make amends and avoid at all costs another disappointing result.”
Otieno scored his first goal for Mathare United against Gor Mahia in November 2019 and was also on target against Batoto ba Mungu during the Wundanyi loss. Van Persie, as he is known, has seven goals for the 2008 Premier League champions and the 2020/21 season is his second with the Eastlands club.
“The way we have been training and playing, you could see there is a slight improvement and it is a matter of time before we start getting results. And when I talk of results, it means winning games.”
Initially, the club’s owner Cleophas Shimanyula stated they have had poor results primarily because some six players returned positive Covid-19 tests and were consequently ruled out of the opening games.
Wanga too stated they were affected by the absence of the infected players.
“Some of the key players were injured just as the season began but now we have almost all players available,” the Premier League-winning star added.