Gor Mahia did put up a spirited performance when they defeated Telecom 3-1 on Sunday at the ongoing CECAFA Kagame Cup in Dar es Salaam
The side won three and drew only one game compared to their performance in 2014 that had them lose two and draw the same numbers of games.
Frank Nutall made a total of eight changes; Godfrey Walusimbi missed his second straight game for the K’Ogalo because of an ankle injury.
He was joined in the stands by fellow Ugandan Khalid Aucho, goalkeeper, Boniface Oluoch and left back Abouba Sibomana.
Meddie Kagere and Abdoul Karim Nizigimana were the other first choice players who started on the bench in a game that had reserves get playing time.
Michael Olunga started, for obvious reasons of course — to add to his goal tally. It was George Odhiambo who opened the gates for Gor Mahia after he ran over 15 yards before he got into the penalty area from the left.
With loads of space and the Telecom defense anticipating a cross, the full back of the day shot on past Jeef Nzokira after 13 minutes.
Ali Hassan Abondo was booked for time wasting when he delayed to take a set piece. Abondo later altruistically crossed for Olunga who scored Gor Mahia’s second and his fourth of the tournament.
Olunga paved way for Kagere at half time, the latter has managed only one goal this campaign. Said Hassan Elmi came off the bench in the 65th minutes to score Telecom’s only goal of the championship ten munities later.
Probably the heaviest player on the pitch, Enock Agwanda controlled a cross from the right; he shot and was stopped by the woodwork. He followed up to make it 3-1 without any effort from the Telecom defense to stop him.
The win took Gor Mahia top of Pool A with 10 points, three and four points behind Khartoum and Yanga respectively. The latter two faceoff on Sunday evening in the final game of Pool A, that will determine their quarter final opponents.
Gor Mahia Starting XI: Fredrick Onyango, Erick Ochieng, Ernest Wendo, Collins Okoth, Ronald Omino, Dirk Glay, George Odhiambo, Innocent Wafula, Michael Olunga, Ali Hassan Abondo, Enock Agwanda
Subs: David Juma, Harun Shakava, Meddie Kagere, Musa Mohamed, Abdoul Karim
Telecom Starting XI: Jeef Nzokira, Nour Miad Charmarkeh, Daher Kader Mohamed, Meraneh Mohamed, Hussein Warsama Said, Eninga Freddy, Houssein Butoyi, Abubakar Dharar Djama, Moussa Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed Bouh Guedi, Osman Yousouf Mohamed
Subs: Gamil Hadari, Anwar Sadad Ibrahim, Mohamed Moustafa, Mawlid Ali Beyleh, Said Hassan Elmi, Douleh Mohamed Elabeh, Daoud Wais Ali, Warsama Ibrahim Aden
