Kenyan Champions Gor Mahia will be out to cement their position in Group D of the CAF Confederations Cup as they prepare to take on Algerian Side Hussein Dey in the CAF Confederations Cup this Sunday at the Kasarani Stadium.
Beating Hussein Dey, who are yet to loose a match in the group stages will however not be an easy task.
Ahead of the clash, Gor Mahia coach Hassan Oktay’s selection has been questioned by a number of Gor Mahia Fans with Gor Mahia legend Tobias Ochola also joining the debate.
According to the Gor Mahia legend, Oktay must get his pairing up front right, if he’s to steer the team past the group stages in his first season with the Kenyan Premier League champions.
According to Ochola, who represented Gor Mahia at the continental stage between 1987 and 1994, Oktay has been struggling to piece up results, especially away, due to inconsistency in his decision making, as far as squad selection is concerned.
“The coach is still struggling to identify a formidable attack,” Ochola observed, adding that unless Gor Mahia wins all the remaining home fixtures, he fears that the team might drop out of the competition, just as they did last season, on the final hurdle.
“It is so dangerous where we are, at this stage. It’s like a repeat of the 2018 season and the team might lose out unless they collect all the remaining points at home then force at least a draw away,”said Ocholla.
Ochola says that a defeat away in Angola was a big mistake by Gor Mahia arguing that Petro Atletico is the only team that the record Kenyan champions could have easily beaten away.
“Winning away has been a problem. Petro is the only team that we could have easily beaten (away) – they blew up that chance with juvenile mistakes from the defense.
“Gor Mahia needs to know how to play away – they went for an attack, but you need to know that you have to defend first (away) then attack only when it is convenient for you.”
While Oktay missed lead striker Jacques Tuyisenge in the loss to Petro Atletico, Ochola is still convinced that the tactician is yet to identify his attacking pair. “Tuyisenge is our lead striker, but who is his partner or who should come in if he substituted or when he gets injured for example?
“Is it Oliech (Dennis) or Kipkirui (Nicholas), because today you see Francis (Mustafa) partnering Kipkirui and the next game it’s Tuyisenge partnering with Ssekisambu (Erisa).
“We need consistency. We have been lacking a proper pairing since (Meddie) Kagere left because that was a perfect blend. But today, you can see that there is no cohesion is the striking department,” added Ochola, who currently works at Kenyatta University.